220 CORPORATIONS. [ART. 23

Sixth. Before granting certificates of authority to an insurance com-
pany to issue policies or make contracts of insurance, the Insurance
Commissioner shall be satisfied by such examination and evidence as
he sees fit to make and require, that such company is otherwise duly
qualified under the laws of this State to transact business therein; once
at least during his term of office he shall cause the affairs of every insur-
ance company organized under the laws: of this State to be thoroughly
inspected and examined, with special regard to its financial condition
and its ability to fulfill its obligations, and shall ascertain and determine
whether or not it has complied with the laws of this State; he shall also
cause an examination of every such company to be made whenever he
deems it prudent to do so, or upon the request of five or more of the
stockholders, creditors, policy-holders or persons pecuniarily interested
therein, who shall make affidavit of their belief, with specifications of
reasons therefor, showing a prima facie case that such company is in
an unsound condition; and whenever the Insurance Commissioner may
have reason to doubt the solvency or the correctness of the statement of
any company not organized under the laws of this State, which may
have been licensed to do business in this State, or which may be apply-
ing for said license he shall communicate such doubts, and the reasons
for them, to the Insurance Commissioner, or other officer charged with
the supervision of insurance corporations of the State in which said
company is located, and if he is not satisfied from the information
obtained from such Insurance Commissioner or other officer, or from the
officers of the Company, that the condition of the Company is such as
to warrant him in permitting it to transact business in this State, under
the provisions of this Article, he shall notify such company that it will
be necessary for him to have its affairs examined. Whenever an exami-
nation of any insurance company doing business in this State shall be
determined upon under the provisions of this Article, the Examiner of
the Insurance Department and such other person or persons who shall
be appointed by the Insurance Commissioner for that purpose shall
visit such company at its principal office and make a thorough examina-
tion into all its affairs; and if such company shall refuse to permit such
examination, or shall refuse free access to all its books and papers, or
shall in any way prevent or obstruct a thorough examination into its
affairs, he shall not grant a license to such company, or if a license shall
already have been granted, he shall at once 'revoke it and publish the
fact of such revocation in one daily newspaper published in the City of
Baltimore. The Examiner of the Insurance Department shall be paid
by the company whose affairs are examined his traveling and other
expenses, and in addition thereto a sum to be approved by the Insurance
Commissioner, not exceeding, however, fifteen dollars ($15.00) for each
and every day that he shall be engaged in any such examination, said
per diem and expenses to be in addition to the compensation provided in
Section 177 of this Article; and such other person or persons who may
be appointed by the Insurance Commissioner for any of the purposes