bill as presented ought to be passed, and may it prove well, auspicious, and fortunate both to yourselves and to the republic”;[849] or if opposed to the proposition, he might conclude with this form of disapproval, “It is my judgment that this law should by no means be repealed.”[850] Sometimes the magistrates were invited in the order of their rank and afterward private citizens; in other cases, especially in tribunician contiones, private persons were called first that they might speak with perfect freedom, uninfluenced by the opinion of their magistrates.[851] As the president had absolute control, he could alter the usage to suit his own interest, and could certainly reserve to himself the advantage of speaking last.[852] It often happened that there was not enough time in one day for the discussion of a question. In that case the magistrate adjourned the meeting to a specified date.[853] After the deliberation, or after the formality of opening the contio which was merely preliminary to the comitia, the president ordered the assembly to form into voting groups—curiae, centuries, or tribes. He could say, for instance, “I order you to take your proper places in the comitia centuriata,”[854] or more generally, “If you think fit, quirites, move apart (into your voting groups).”[855] At the same time he ordered the departure of all who lacked the qualification for voting.[856] The lictors of the magistrates with imperium and the beadle (viator) of the tribune attended to clearing away the unqualified.[857] Schulze, C. F., _Volksversammlungen der Römer_, 141 ff., 243 ff.; Rubino, J., _Röm. Verfassung und Geschichte_, 240-53; Lange, L., _Röm. Altertümer_, ii. 715-23, and see indices s. v.; Mommsen, Th., _Röm. Staatsrecht_, i. 191-209; iii. 370-8, and see index s. v.; Willems, P., _Droit public Rom._ 158 f.; Herzog, E., _Röm. Staatsverfassung_, i. 632-6, 1057 f., and see index s. v.; Karlowa, O., _Röm. Rechtsgeschichte_, i. 48 f., 379-81; Madvig, J. N., _Verf. u. Verw. d. röm. Staates_, i. 219; Soltau, W., _Altröm. Volksversammlungen_, 37 ff.; Humbert, G., _Contio_, in Daremberg et Saglio, _Dict._ i. 1484 f.; Liebenam, W., _Contio_, in Pauly-Wissowa, _Real-Encycl._ iv. 1149-53; Ruggiero, _Diz. ep._ ii. 1185, s. Contio; Lodge, G., _Lex. Plaut._ i. 307, s. Contio; Forcellini, _Tot. Lat. Lex._ ii. 349 f., s. Concio; Dupond, A., _Constitution et magistratures Rom._ 60-3; Ihne, _History of Rome_, iv. 40-2. CHAPTER VIII THE CALATA COMITIA