Evening star., 1933-07-09

pose, in this modern republic, Is the
same as it was in the ancient Roman
republic. Were it possible for ruler
to obtain an increase in pay or be SUD-
ject to reduction that fact would give
the people an influential lever which
might sway his judgments.
But the rules governing the Roman
podestas went even further Having a
fixed stipend, he must defray all of his
own expenses himself and could. under
no circumstances, expect anything in
the nature Of an expense account from
the state. A recent book, entitled the
Washington Swindle Sheet, suggests
that lack Of such an arrangement In
modern times may open the door to
abuses. The podesta could have as
many servants, horses, houses. and SO
forth, as he could afford out of his sal
ary, but that was all.
Moreover. the imported ruler Of the
Eternal City could not bring with him
his wife, his daughter. his son, MS
brother or, indeed, any member of his
family. In other words, he was stripped
of all opportunity to set up a social
lobby based on the influence Of men,
bers of his own family. 1t would not,
therefore. be possible for some emSi-
tious young man to marry the dAaGe
ter of the podesta because there wocud
be no daughter present. 1t would not
be possible for the podestas son .
marry the daughter of q Roman and
acquire local interests which might
prompt him to attempt to influence his
father in favor of relations by mar
riage.
Podesta Had No Social Life.
But experience had taught that even
without such relationships, close social
alliances may be formed Therefore,
the podesta was forbidden by the terms
of his oath to accept any social invita-
tions whatever. Nor was he expected
to receive Romans at his own house ex-
cept for the transaction of business OF
the state.
To remove any temptation to get in
on the ground floor in any business deal,
the podesta's oath forbade him to buy
any land and, of course, it was ascer-
tanned that he owned none in Rome
before his accession to the office. There
fore, he was not likely to order con-
struction of an Appian Way past his
own lands or locate a coliseum on lots
the city would have to buy from him.
When his term expired there was still
another duty. He could not leave the
city-was, in effect. held as prisoner
until every complaint against his regime
had been satisfied.
The most famous of the podestas was
Brancaleone, who appears to nave held
the office for six years. He incurred
tremendous hostility because he would
not let the Bishop of Rome interfere
with secular affairs and also he made
war on the gangsters of the time. He
would have been killed by the irate
Romans had he not, on assuming the
office, exacted. as a part Of the bar
gain, the delivery of hostages to his
own city of Bologna. To redeem the
hostages lie had to be sent safely home
Later the Romans, appreciating his ex-
| cellent rule, raised a monument to him.
While it is not expected that DR.. Nor
gans revival of this ancient idea will
be generally adopted especially in the
rigorous original form, there is one
thing dead certain. That is. some doz-
! ems of Senators, Representatives, and
other officials who have for years been
courting the good opinion of the public.
have been kicking themselves all over
| the lot for not thinking of the gesture
| themselves. There may be some, to be
sure, who might be embarrassed by a
compulsory application Of the before
and after property inventory system.