The Same, Opinions, Book III. The Governor of a province where buildings have been inspected by him, can compel their owners to repair them when sufficient cause for this exists; and where a refusal is made, he should take proper measures for their reparation.

Ulpianus, Opinions, Book II. The immunity granted to soldiers who have been honorably discharged, they also enjoy in the towns in which they reside; nor is it lost if one of them should voluntarily accept an honor or a public employment. 1They must all pay taxes, and sustain any other ordinary burdens attaching to patrimonial estates.

The Same, Opinions, Book III. The care of the construction or repair of public buildings in a city is a public employment from which a father who has five living children is exempt; but if he should be compelled by force to discharge such an employment, this will not deprive him of any excuse which he may have for not accepting others. 1The excuse of a want of means for not accepting municipal employments or duties which persons are required to undertake is not perpetual but temporary; for, where anyone’s patrimony has been increased by honorable means this will be taken into consideration, when inquiry as to his solvency at the time when he was appointed to the office is made. 2Persons who are poor cannot, through destitution, be compelled to accept patrimonial employments, but they are forced to discharge the duties of corporeal ones to which they have been appointed. 3Anyone who is obliged to discharge a public employment in his city, and represents himself as a soldier for the purpose of avoiding a municipal burden, cannot render the condition of the municipality any worse.

The Same, Opinions, Book III. A minor of sixteen years of age cannot be charged with the duty of the purchase of grain, if this is not customary in the place of his birth. The same rule applies to minors under twenty-five years of age, if they are appointed to municipal employments or honors. 1Neither the number of children, nor the age of seventy years, is a good excuse where honors or offices are united, but only exempts a person from civil employments. 2Adopted children are not included in the number of those who ordinarily excuse fathers from public duties. 3Those who are called to perform the functions of public officials must prove that they have the prescribed number of children at the time when they wish to be excused on this account; for if the number of children should afterwards be completed, it will not release them, if they have previously undertaken the employment. 4Where patrimonial employments exist, the number of children is no excuse. 5Children, even if they have ceased to be under the control of their father, afford a valid excuse for exemption from civil employments. 6A person who hears with difficulty is not entitled to exemption from civil employments. 7When the Governor of a province perceives that anyone is oppressed with age and bodily infirmity, or has not sufficient money to administer the office, he can discharge him and appoint another. 7aInfirmity of body is a valid excuse from public employment, where only corporeal labor is concerned. Those, however, who can assist with their advice as well-informed men, or who are competent to discharge the duties of the office, should not be excused, except for good and sufficient reasons. 8Those who teach children the first rudiments of learning are not entitled to exemption from civil employments. It is, however, a part of the duty of a Governor to see that an office is not assigned to anyone which is beyond his capacity, whether such a person is teaching the primary branches of knowledge in a city or in a village.

Ulpianus, Opinions, Book III. Those who are only on board ships for the purpose of navigating them are not entitled to immunity from civil employments, by the terms of any Imperial Constitution. 1Immunity granted to anyone does not descend to his heirs. 2Where it is given to and acquired by a family and its descendants, it does not pass to those born of the women of this family.

The Same, Opinions, Book III. Conditions imposed in former leases cannot be considered to apply to subsequent ones. 1What anyone is forbidden to do in his own name he should not do through the agency of anyone else. Therefore, if a decurion rents public land (which decurions are not permitted to do), by substituting the names of others, his act shall be revoked, as being in violation of law. 2Where anyone converts money intended for the purchase of grain to some other use, he will be required to refund the amount with interest; and a judgment rendered against him will be valid, even if he is absent; but in this case it is presumed that he has given security to render an account of his administration. 3Anyone who owes a sum of money intended for the purchase of grain must pay it at once. For, in all matters relating to the public purchase of grain, which is necessary, the payment of the money does not admit of delay; and all persons who are indebted under such circumstances can be compelled to pay by the Governor of the province. 4Funds given for the purchase of grain must be returned to the city, and cannot be expended for other purposes. If, however, money destined for the purchase of grain is converted to some other use, as, for instance, to work upon the public baths, even though it may be proved that it has been expended in good faith, still, as it can only be disbursed for the purchase of grain, he who has charge of it shall be ordered to refund it to the city. 5If money intended for the purchase of grain should be refunded to the city with interest, an unreasonable and an unlawful rate of interest ought not to be exacted, that is to say, compound interest should not be paid. 6Where, after the purchase of grain, for which the price has been paid and entered upon the public registers, it is unjustly taken from the purchaser; the Governor of the province can order the amount to be refunded to him who purchased it. 7When a man who was solvent at the time when he was appointed to office afterwards becomes insolvent, any loss sustained must be borne by the State; for no human prudence can provide against accidents, and the person who appointed him should not be liable for anything on this account. 8The rights of a city cannot be changed by an agreement entered into by magistrates and their colleagues to prevent themselves from being sued by one another, with reference to matters in which this is permitted to be done by law. 9Ad Dig. 50,8,2,9Windscheid: Lehrbuch des Pandektenrechts, 7. Aufl. 1891, Bd. II, § 443, Note 16.The action, however, which can be brought against one of them for maladministration will, in accordance with equity, lie in favor of another who has become responsible for him. 10What is proved to have been expended in behalf of a colleague holding the office of magistrate, the Governor of a province shall order to be paid by the party in question, or his heirs.

The Same, In The Same Book. Where anyone has been punished for fraud in the construction of some work, and the surety who was responsible for him contracted with another for the construction of the same work, and it still was not done, the heir of the surety cannot refuse the payment of interest; as, in the first place, the contract bound the surety in good faith for the entire amount, and under the subsequent contract, because he acknowledged his responsibility, he will be liable for the payment of any loss which may be sustained by the city. 1Persons who have become sureties for the entire amount for which a farmer of the revenue may become liable can legally be sued for the interest as well as the principal, unless something to the contrary with reference to them is set forth in the terms of the obligation. 2But where, in the leasing of lands, it was agreed that if on account of an unfavorable season, the rent need not be paid for any year during which, according to the judgment of a reliable citizen, this might be considered a proper excuse, good faith must be observed in complying with the condition of the lease.

Ulpianus, Opinions, Book III. It is not in the discretion of the Governor of a province to determine the number of physicians to be appointed for each town, but this is the duty of the Order of Decurions and those who possess property therein, in order that, in cases of bodily illness, they may commit themselves and their children to the care of persons selected by themselves, and of whose probity and skill in their profession they are assured.

The Same, Opinions, Book III. Anyone who, through liberality and not because of indebtedness, has devoted his income for a time to the purpose of completing public works, is not forbidden to obtain the reward of his generosity by having his name inscribed upon them. 1The supervisors of public works transact business with the contractors, but the State is only concerned with those appointed for that purpose. Therefore, the Governor of the province will repose confidence in the person who has charge of the work, as well as in the contractor who is liable to him. 2The Governor of a province should interpose his authority to prevent the name of him through whose generosity a public work has been constructed from being erased, and the names of others inscribed in its place; and also see that the evidence of similar liberalities bestowed by citizens upon their country shall not be removed.

The Same, Opinions, Book III. Anyone has the right to repair his own house, provided he does not do so against the consent of another, on land to which he has no right.