Responsible

Able to pay the sum which may be required of him; able to discharge an obligation. Webster; 26 N. H. 527. RESPONSIO UNIUS NON OMNINO AUDItur The answer of one witness shall not be heard at all. 1 Greenl. Ev § 260. This is a maxim of the civil law, where everything must be proved by two witnesses. RESTITUTIO IN INTEGRAM (Lat.)

In civil law. A restoring parties to the condition they were in before entering into a contract or agreement on account of fraud, infancy, force, honest mistake, etc. Calv. Lex. The going into a cause anew from the beginning. Calv. Lex.

Able to pay the sum which may be required of him; able to discharge an obligation. Webst. Dict.; Farley v. Day, 26 N. H. 527; People v. Dorsheimer, 55 How. Pr. (N. Y.) 119. A promise "to be responsible" for the debt of another is merely a guaranty, and not a suretyship; Bickel v. Auner, 9 Phila. (Pa.) 499; Gilbert v. Henck, 30 Pa. 209. In an act directing municipal officers to award contracts to the lowest responsible bidder, responsible applies not only to pecuniary ability but also to judgment and skill; Interstate Vitrified Brick & P. Co. v. City of Philadelphia, 164 Pa. 477, 30 Atl. 383. See People v. Kent, 160 Ill. 655, 43 N. E. 760.

To say that a person is "responsible" means that he is able to pay a sum for which he is or may become liable or to discharge an obligation which he may be under. Farley v. Day, 26 N. H. 531; Pcople v. Kent, 160 111. 655, 43 N. E. 760; Com. v. Mitchell, 82 Pa. 349. A promise to be "responsible" for the contract of another is a guaranty rather than a suretyship. Bickel v. Auner, 9 Phila. (Pa.) 499.

— Responsible government. This term generally designates that species of governmental system in which the responsibility for public measures or acts of slate rests upon the ministry or executive council, who are under an obligation to resign when disapprobation of their course is expressed by a vote of want of confidence, in the legislative assembly, or by the defeat of an important measure advocated by them.

Able to respond; able to pay a sum for which a person may become liabla

Answerable, accountable, amenable; able to answer just expectations; of pecuniary ability. Opposed, irresponsible. Compare Liable. See Circumstances, 2. A promise to be "responsible " for the contract of another "is a contingent liability, and becomes absolute by showing due and unsuccessful diligence to obtdin satisfaction from the principal.* A statute requiring that a writ shall be indorsed by some " responsible person " intends that the person ' See generally Philadelphia, &c. E. Co. v. Derby, 14 How. 483-87(1853); Chicago City v. Robbins, 3 Black, 428 (1863); Hilliard v. Richardson, 3 Gray, 350-67 (185B), cases; 5 South. Law Rev. 288-85 (1879), cases; 3 Cent. Law J. 647 (1876) — Solicitors' Joum.; 83 Ky. ^681; 2 Mich. 629; 68 N. H. 63. ' The Brig Atlantic, 1 Newb, 516 (1855), Mc Caleb, J. » [3 Bl. Com. 468. * Marsh. Ins. 734. See generally 3 Kent, *353, et seq. * Maine, Ancient Law, 38-38; Hadley, Eom. Law, 65-^9. shall possess sufficient pecuniary ability to pay the costs that may be recovered against the plaintiff. Strictly speaking, "responsible" means liable, answerable, rather than able to discharge an obligation.' A testator devised property for founding a school upon condition that within six months after his decease '" responsible citizens " should pledge forty thousand dollars to the object. A large number of persons of limited means subscribed small amounts, some conditional. Held, that the subscription list •was not a pledge by such persons as the testator coutemplated.2 In deciding upon the responsibility of bidders for the erection of a public building, it is the duty of the proper officials to consider not only the pecuniary ability of the bidders to perform the contract, but also to ascertain which ones, in point of slcill, ability, and integrity, will be most likely to do faithful, conscientious work, and to fulfill the contract promptly, according to its letter and spu'it.3 The ''lowest responsible bidder" is one who complies with all the requirements of the law, not merely one whose bid is lowest.^ In the Pennsylvania act of May 23, 1874, which directs that contracts for municipal work shall be awarded to the " lowest responsible bidder," "responsible "has been held to refer to pecuniary ability, judgment, and skill. The statute calls for the exercise of duties and powers, in the city authorities, which are deliberative and discretionary; and if they act in good faith, although erroneously or indiscreetly, a mandamus will not lie to compel them to change their decision.'

In a statute requiring awards of municipal contracts to be made " to the lowest responsible bidder," means more than mere pecuniary ability, and imports that the municipal officers have deliberative and discretionary powers in the selection of a contractor. Common, wealth V. Mitchell, 82 Pa. St. 343; Fmdley V. Pittsburgh, Id. 351. A promise " to be responsible " for the contract of another is merely a guaranty, and not a suretyship. Bickel v. Auner, 9 PMa. 499. / / /^ >f ^