the consulship be open to the plebeians. A compromise, however, was
made, and it was agreed to suspend for a time the office of Consul,
and to elect annually six MILITARY TRIBUNES in the Comitia Centuriáta,
the office being open to all citizens. The people voted every year
whether they should have consuls or military tribunes, and this custom
continued for nearly a half-century. The patricians, however, were so
influential, that for a long time no plebeian was elected.

As an offset to these gains of the plebeians, the patricians in 435
obtained two new officers, called CENSORS, elected from their own
ranks every five years (_lustrum_) to hold office for eighteen
months.

The duties of the Censors were:-

I. To see that the citizens of every class were properly registered.

II. To punish immorality in the Senate by the removal of any members
who were guilty of offences against public morals.

III. To have the general supervision of the finances and public works
of the state. This office became in after years the most coveted at
Rome.

A few years later, in 421, the plebeians made another step forward by
obtaining the right of electing one of their number as Quaestor. There
were now four Quaestors.

Thus the patricians, in spite of the most obstinate resistance,
sustained loss after loss. Even the rich plebeians, who had hitherto