ART. 23] FORFEITURE OF CHARTER. 631

of such securities shall be taken to be the value thereof, unless the
company, by placing some of them upon the market, and obtaining a
bona fide offer therefor, shall so establish for them a different value.

This section referred to in construing sections 173 and 229—see notes
thereto. International Fraternal Alliance v. State, 86 Md. 558.

1904, art. 23, sec. 187. 1888, art. 23, sec. 137. 1860, art. 56, sec. 35. 1858, ch. 432,
sec. 8. 1872, ch. 388. 1874, ch. 400. 1876, ch. 248. 1878, ch. 106.

204. Whenever the attorney-general of the State or the State's attor-
ney for the city of Baltimore or for any county of this State shall be
required by the insurance commissioner to institute proceedings against
any insurance company, incorporated under the laws of this State, to
ascertain whether such corporation has been guilty of such misuse, abuse
or non-user of its corporate powers and franchises, as by law would
authorize and make proper the forfeiture of its charter, corporate powers
and franchises, the said attorney-general, or State's attorney, as the
case may be, so required, shall file with the superior court of Baltimore
city, or the circuit court for the county, as the case may be, a petition
in the name of the State, setting forth fully in detail the alleged abuse,
misuse or non-user, by reason whereof the forfeiture is sought; and
upon the filing of such petition, the court in which it is filed, or any
judge thereof, shall lay a rule requiring the said company or corporation
to show cause, within such time as the said judge may deem proper,
why a decree of forfeiture should not be passed as prayed in said
petition; a copy of which rule, and the petition shall be served on the
president, manager, secretary, or some other officer of the said company
or corporation, by a day to be therein limited, not exceeding twenty days,
as other processes against such companies or corporations are directed
to be served; and further proceedings shall be had in said cause in
conformity with the provisions of this article.

Ibid. sec. 188. 1888, art. 23, sec. 138. 1860, art. 56, sec. 36. 1858, ch. 432,

sec. 8. 1872, ch. 388. 1874, ch. 400. 1876, ch. 248.

1878, ch. 106. 1894, ch. 175.

205. Any person or persons, or any company or association, violat-
ing any of the provisions of sections 175, 176 and 178 to 204, inclusive,
of this article, shall be subject to a fine not less than one hundred dollars,
nor more than one thousand dollars, which fine shall be collected as all
other fines imposed by the laws of this State are now collectible; pro-
vided, that when, by the laws of any other State, any deposit of money
or securities is required, or taxes, fines or penalties or other obligations
or prohibitions are imposed upon insurance companies incorporated or
organized under the laws of this State, and transacting business in such
other State, or upon the agents of such insurance companies, greater
than those required or imposed by the laws of this State, so long as such
laws continue in force, the same taxes, fines, penalties and deposits,
obligations and prohibitions, shall be imposed upon all agents or insur-
ance companies of such State, doing business in this State, instead of
those prescribed by the laws of this State. Any deposit of money or