Judiciary.—The eight judges who compose the Supreme Judicial Court are appointed for a term of seven years by the governor and coun cil. The judge of the Superior Court of Cum berland County, which includes the city of Portland, the judges of the inferior courts, of municipal and police courts, are also appointed by the State executive and his conned. The term of appointment of the judges of the In ferior courts is seven years, and of the judges of municipal and police courts, four years.. Probate judges are chosen by the people election and for a term of four years. The attorney-general is elected on joint ballot of the legislature for a term of two years.
Local There is a general law providing for the election and duties State, county, town and city officers, and aides for non-fulfilment of their duties. The county officers are trial justices, ney, county commissioners, bail judges of probate, sheriff, depety isters of deeds, treasurer, clerk, of diselosuts stenographic commissioners and coroners. The town officers are selectmen, clerk, treasurer, collector of taxes, constables, road commissioners, school committees, health officer. Justices of the peace have jurisdiction throughout the State.
The National Guard of the State numbers 1,382 organized militia, with 116 com missioned officers and 14 general staff officers. The unorganized reserve militia numbers 103, 375 men — every able-bodied male citizen, aged 18 to 45, being included. The organized militia is both commissioned and enlisted.
Religion.— The denominations rank in numbers as follows: Baptist, 20,016; Protest ant Episcopal, 4,800; Free Baptist, 12,963; Con 21,483; Methodist Episcopal, 10,585; Universalist, 3,003; Unitarian, 4,500; Roman Catholic (population), 106,000; Lutheran, 1,445; Presbyterian, 423; Advent Christian, 5,000; Friends, 1,800; Swedenborgian, 173; Christian, 3,600; Disciples, 500; Church of God, 250. In 1900 there were 2,020 Evangelical Sunday schools, with 13,600 teachers and officers and 111,290 pupils. Sunday schools are maintained in connection with all the Roman Catholic churches.
By the last census the school population was 161,600; enrolment in public schools was 132,948; and average daily attend ance, 97,132; enrolment in parish schools, 11,000. There were 4,218 buildings used for public school purposes, 6,447 teachers; school property valued at $4,699,475; receipts for the previous year, $1,507,345, and expenditures, $1,513,125. For the higher education there were 200 public high schools; 40 private secondary schools; 5 public and 2 private nor mal schools; Bowdoin College at Brunswick; Bates College at Lewiston; University of Maine at Orono; Colby College at Waterville; Westbrook Seminary at Deering; and Maine Wesleyan Seminary and Female College at Kent's Hill. There are academies at Hebron,
Hampden, Lee, Bridgton and other towns. The illiterate of 10 years and over were 5.1 per cent, but this per cent would have been lower if the test had been made from the standpoint of those who could read or write in any language. A law of 1821 required that not less than 40 cents per capita of all inhabitants should be raised annually for school purposes. A public school fund was created in 1828 by setting apart 20 townships of lands belonging to the State. Moneys received from the United States for claims for services rendered in the War of 1812 were set apart for educational purposes. The compulsory law which covers the ages from 7 to 15 is strictly enforced. The district system has been abandoned and instead, the town sys tem is in use. Since 1873 the State has aided towns where free academic instruction is given to the pupils. This instruction may be given in a high school within the town, or, since 1889, the town authorities may arrange for the educa tion of its pupils with a high school outside the town. The number of free high schools receiv ing State aid in 1901 was 211. State institutes or summer schools for teachers are maintained by the State under the supervision of the State superintendent. The Indians are well provided with schools. The teachers' examinations and certificates are uniform and are in charge of the State. Strong efforts are made to have all the teachers normal school graduates. In 1903 about 25 per cent of those teaching in the schools were normal graduates.
Charitable There is a Na tional Soldiers' Home at Togas, a United States Marine Hospital at Portland, State insane asy lums at Augusta and Bangor, military and naval orphan asylum at Bath. There is also a law school at Bangor, a college of pharmacy at Orono, and agricultural experiment station, all connected with the university. There are State normal schools at Farmington, Castine, Gor ham and Presque Isle. The State General Hos pital, State Reform School, School for Deaf Mutes, Maine Medical School and Eve and Ear Infirmary, Home for Aged and Indigent Wo men, Old Men's Home, two orphan asylums (Protestant and Catholic), Young Men's Chris tian Association and Young Women's Christian Association, located at Portland. City Hos pital at Augusta, Central Maine at Lewiston, Eastern Maine General Hospital at Bangor, also at Bar Harbor, Old Town and Rockland. There are two hospitals, five orphanages and one Home for the Aged under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Church.