1220 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 492

a membership of less than 400 (or shall determine to dis-
continue business), the Insurance Commissioner may pre-
sent the facts relating thereto to the Attorney-General,
who shall, if he deem the circumstances warrant, com-
mence an action in quo warranto in a court of competent
jurisdiction, and such court shall thereupon notify the offi-
cers of such association of a hearing; and if it shall then
appear that such association should be closed, said asso-
ciation shall be enjoined from carrying on any further
business; and some person shall be appointed receiver of
such association and shall proceed at once to take posses-
sion of the books, papers, monies and other assets of the
association, and shall forthwith, under the direction of
the court, proceed to close the affairs of the association
and to distribute its funds to those entitled thereto. No
such proceedings shall be commenced by the Attorney-
General against any such association until after notice
has been duly served on the chief executive officers of the
association and a reasonable opportunity given to it, on a
date to be named in said notice, to show cause why such
proceedings should not be commenced.

SEC. 173. Application for Receiver. No application
for injunction against or proceedings for any dissolution
of or the appointment of a receiver for any such domestic
association or branch thereof shall be entertained by any
court in this State unless the same is made by the Attor-
ney-General.

SEC. 174. Examination of Foreign Association. The
Insurance Commissioner, or any person whom he may
appoint, may examine any foreign association transacting
or applying f or admission to transact business in this State.
The said Commissioner may employ assistants, and he, or
any person he may appoint, shall have free access to all the
books, papers and documents that relate to the business
of the association, and may summon and qualify as wit-
nesses under oath and examine its officers, agents and em-
ployees and other persons in relation to the affairs, trans-
actions and conditions of the association. He may, in his
discretion, accept in lieu of such examination the exami-
nation of the Insurance Department of the State, terri-
tory, district, province or country where such association
is organized. The actual expenses of examiners making
any such examination shall be paid by the association