Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 12.djvu/801

MAINE. cotton goods, canned vegetables, boots, shoes, lumber, bacon, hams, etc.

In 1902 there were 86 national banks with loans aggregating $27,837,000; cash, etc., $2,027,000; capital, $10,531,000; and deposits, $26,263,000. In 1901 there was $69,533,058 deposited in savings banks, the total number of depositors being 196,583.

Receipts of the State Treasury for the two years ending December 31, 1900, were $3,953,647; disbursements, $3,754,768; balance on hand, December 31, 1900, $198,879. The principal sources of State revenue during 1899 and 1900 were: From cities, towns, etc., $1,815,902; savings banks, $851,566; railroads, $323,052; insurance companies, $131,405; new corporations, $71,565. The total revenue for the State during the two years was $1,783,021. The bonded debt at the close of 1900 was $2,103,000, a reduction of $516,300 since 1890. Outstanding temporary loans against the State aggregated $350,000.

The present Constitution was adopted by the people in town meetings, in December, 1819. To secure an amendment a two-thirds vote of both Houses and a majority vote of the people at their next biennial meeting are necessary. A three months' residence in the State and the ability to read English are required of voters. The suffrage is withheld from paupers, Indians not taxed, and persons under guardianship. Soldiers from the State may vote when serving outside the State.

The Legislature, composed of a Senate of 31 members and a House of Representatives of 151 members, elected on the second Monday of September, biennially, meets on the first Wednesday in January. The Representatives are elected from the towns, the Senators from districts bounded by county lines. The Governor's veto is overcome by a two-thirds vote of each House. Revenue bills originate in the Lower House. The power of impeachment rests with the House, the trial of impeachments with the Senate. The State has four representatives in the Lower House of Congress.

The Governor is elected biennially (a plurality being necessary to election). He has the advice of a council of seven members elected biennially by the Legislature on joint ballot, but only one councilor can be elected from any district prescribed for the election of Senators. The Governor and Council have power to remit penalties and grant reprieves, pardons, and commutations. The president of the Senate and Speaker of the House are respectively in the line of succession to the Governorship in case of vacancy in that office. A Secretary of State and a Treasurer are elected biennially on joint ballot.

The Supreme Court, composed of eight judges, is appointed by the Governor and Council for a term of seven years. The County of Cumberland, embracing the city of Portland, has a Superior Court of one judge appointed in the same way. Probate judges are elected by the people of each county for terms of four years. Judges of inferior courts are appointed by the Governor and Council for terms of seven years. Judges of municipal and police courts are similarly appointed, and hold for four years. An Attorney-General is chosen biennially on joint ballot.

A sheriff is elected biennially in each county. The indebtedness of a municipality is limited to 5 per cent. of its valuation.

In 1846 Maine passed the first prohibitory liquor law, and in 1884 inserted a prohibition clause in the Constitution. The laws against the manufacture of and the traffic in intoxicating liquors are very strict and supported by severe penalties. Liquors for medicinal, mechanical, and manufacturing purposes are sold in towns and cities under the supervision of State agents. Husbands are not liable for debts contracted by their wives in their own name, but the latter may be sued for them. A wife may hold real and personal estate separately from her husband, and may convey or devise the same by will. The legal rate of interest is 6 per cent., and any rate is allowed on contract.

In 1900 there were 142,175 males of militia age. In the State militia force there were 93 commissioned officers and 1165 enlisted men.

The following figures indicate the growth of the population: 1790, 96,540; 1810, 228,705; 1830, 399,455; 1850, 583,169; 1860, 628,279; 1870, 626,915; 1880, 648,936; 1890, 661,086; 1900, 694,466. In 1900 Maine ranked in respect to population thirtieth among the States of the Union. The West has drawn heavily upon the population here. The increase in the last decade amounted to 5 per cent., as compared with 20.7 for the United States. The largest increase for the decade, as also for the last half of the century, was in Aroostook County. The foreign population in 1900—mostly Canadian—numbered 93,330. The French element is prominent in the southwestern counties. In 1900 there was an average of 23.2 inhabitants to the square mile. In the same year twenty-five cities had each a population exceeding 4000, and together constituted 36.2 per cent. of the total population.

The following figures give the population for the largest towns in 1900: Portland, 50,145; Lewiston, 23,761; Bangor, 21,850; Biddeford, 16,145. Augusta is the capital.

The immigration into the State during recent years, including the large number of French Canadians, has increased the Catholic population until the Catholic communicants number over one-third of the total Church membership. The strongest Protestant denominations in their order are the Baptists, Methodists, and Congregationalists.

In the year 1900, 5.1 per cent. of the population ten years of age and over was illiterate. For the native white population alone it was 2.4 per cent. As in the other New England States, much attention was given here to education from the earliest colonial period. In 1821, soon after the establishment of Statehood, a law was passed requiring every town and plantation to raise and expend not less than forty cents annually per inhabitant for school purposes. A law of 1828 set apart twenty townships of public land for the establishment of a public school fund. This was augmented by certain moneys received from Massachusetts on account of claims against the United States for services in the War of 1812. The district plan of school supervision has been abolished and town management has taken its place. There is a strictly enforced compulsory attendance law which covers the age period from