of only six months in the State, however, is required of ministers and of teachers in the public schools. Every elector must enroll once in ten years, but enrollment may be secured in any year for those not previously registered. It was required of those registering prior to January 1, 1898, that they should be able to read any section of the State Constitution or understand and explain it when read to them. Those applying for registration after that date must be able to read and write any section of the State Constitution or to show that they own and have paid all taxes collectible during the previous year on property in the State assessed at $300 or more. The capital is Columbia.
Legislature. There are 124 Representatives elected upon the basis of population from county districts every two years. Each county elects a Senator, who serves four years. Elections are held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November of even years. Revenue bills must originate in the Lower House. Sessions of the Legislature are held annually.
Executive. A Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary, Comptroller-General, Attorney-General, Treasurer, Adjutant and Inspector-General, and Superintendent of Education are elected for terms of two years each. The Lieutenant-Governor and president pro tem. of the Senate are in the line of succession to the Governorship in case of vacancy. The Governor is given the usual pardoning power and the authority to call extra sessions of the Legislature. The Governor's veto of a bill or of any item of an appropriation bill may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of each House. An act of the Legislature becomes a law if not returned within three days.
Judicial. The Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice and three associate justices, who are all elected by the General Assembly for terms of eight years. The State is divided into judicial circuits and for each a judge is elected by the General Assembly to serve for four years. There are two circuit courts, namely, a Court of Common Pleas and a Court of General Session. There is a Court of Probate at Charleston.
Finances. The debt of South Carolina at the outbreak of the Civil War amounted to but $3,814,862 and the State was on a firm financial basis. In 1867 the debt had increased to about $5,500,000. This debt was increased until in 1870 it reached $6,314,000. At this time there were also outstanding against the State bonds to the amount of $20,827,608 and a railroad debt of $6,787,608. The financial condition of this period is also shown by the fact that in 1872-73 appropriations aggregating $2,418,872 had been made, while the receipts from all sources were but $1,719,728. An act authorizing an annual tax sufficiently large to pay the interest on the State debt failed to have the desired effect. In 1880, however, it was enacted that holders of consolidated bonds, stock, or interest-bearing coupons which were due and unpaid before July 1, 1878, might exchange them for new bonds with interest at 6 per cent. and in every respect equal to the value of the bonds, stock, or interest coupons surrendered. This proved to be an efficient remedy, and the credit of the State was restored. In 1880 the public debt was $7,175,454 and in 1902 it had been reduced to $6,514,674. In the latter year the total receipts were $3,976,659 and the expenditures $3,783,605, which, together with the money on hand at the beginning of the year, left a total cash balance of $430,797.
State Dispensary. The State abolished the old saloon system for the sale of liquors and substituted in its place a State dispensary system. At the dispensaries sealed packages of liquor containing not less than one-half pint are sold, but cannot be opened at the dispensary. Profits accruing are divided between the State, county, and municipality. In 1902 the dispensaries sold liquors (exclusive of fresh beer) to the amount of $2,406,213, and purchased liquors to the amount of $1,664,870. The total net earnings were $566,898. Of this amount $443,198 was divided equally between towns and counties, and $142,755 was paid into the school fund.
Militia. In 1900 there were 236,767 men of milithi age. The militia in 1901 numbered 3029.
Population. The population increased from 249,073 in 1790 to 502,741 in 1820; 668,507 in 1850; 703,708 in 1860; 705,606 in 1870; 995,577 in 1880; 1,151,149 in 1890; and 1,340,316 in 1900. In the last year the State ranked twenty-fourth in population. There were 44.4 persons to the square mile. Only one other State in the Union had a smaller foreign-born population, this element numbering only 5528 in 1900. South Carolina ranks fourth in negro population, it having been increased from 688,934 in 1890 to 782,321 in 1908. The number of towns exceeding 4000 inhabitants increased from 4 in 1890 to 16 in 1900, constituting in the latter year 11.7 per cent. of the total population. In 1900 the largest cities were as follows: Charleston, 55,807; Columbia, 21,108; Greenville, 11,860; and Spartanburg, 11,395. South Carolina sends 7 members to the National House of Representatives.
Religion. The Methodist Church is the largest, followed closely by the Baptist. These two represent the bulk of the church membership of the State.
Education. South Carolina has a negro population greatly in excess of the white, and has consequently had to deal with most serious problems in the matter of providing adequate educational facilities. The considerable success attained is shown by the decrease in illiteracy. In 1900, 35.9 per cent. of the total population above ten years of age could not read, as against 55.4 per cent, in 1880. The percentage of illiteracy among the native whites is only 13.6, as compared with 52.8 for the colored population; but the colored illiteracy has been reduced from 78.5 per cent. in 1880. The length of the school term is short, but is becoming longer. In 1901 the average term for the white schools was 21.17 weeks, for the negro schools 14.12 weeks. No compulsory attendance law has been passed. The State Governor appoints the State Board of Education. This board appoints the county boards, and the latter in turn appoint the trustees in the small districts. Educational progress is seriously handicapped by a lack of financial support and the resulting inadequacy of teachers' wages. In 1901 white teachers received an average annual wage of $188.91 and the negro teachers $80.30. The new Constitution increased the State school tax from two to three mills, and in the school year 1900-01 the receipts from this source amounted to $520,294. In 1900-01 the expendi-
