Still there yet remained some shadow of a free
state. A contest arose between Vibullius, the prætor, and Antistius, a
tribune of the people; for the tribune had ordered the release of some
disorderly applauders of certain actors, whom the prætor had
imprisoned. The Senate approved the imprisonment, and censured the
presumption of Antistius. Tribunes were also forbidden to usurp the
authority of prætors and consuls, or to summon from any part of
Italy persons liable to legal proceedings. It was
further proposed by Lucius Piso,
FREEDMEN AND MAGISTRATES
RESTRICTED |
consul-elect, that tribunes were not to try any case
in their own houses, that a fine imposed by them was not to be entered on
the public books by the officials of the exchequer, till four months had
expired, and that in the meantime appeals were to be allowed, which the
consuls were to decide.
Restrictions were also put on the powers of the
aediles and a limit fixed to the amount of bail or penalty which curule and
plebeian aediles could respectively exact. On this, Helvidius Priscus, a
tribune of the people, followed up a personal quarrel he had with
Obultronius Sabinus, one of the officials of the exchequer, by insinuating
that he stretched his right of confiscation with merciless rigour against
the poor. The emperor then transferred the charge of the public accounts
from these officers to the commissioners.
