ART. 23] FOREIGN CORPORATIONS. 95

States other than the State of Maryland, or of any foreign coun-
try, except telephone, banking, insurance and railroad companies,
electric light or construction companies, and oil or pipe line com-
panies, now doing business in the State of Maryland, or which
shall desire to commence business in this State, shall, before
transacting business in this State, either through an individual,
agent or agents or through the agency of any corporation, organ-
ized under the laws of this State, or before opening or continuing
any office for the transaction of any business in this State, first
tile in the office of the Secretary of State of Maryland, accom-
panied by a deposit fee of twenty-five dollars, a duly certified
copy of the charter, certificate or act of incorporation, under
which it claims the powers to transact business as a corporation,
together with a sworn statement from the president or other
chief executive officer of such corporation, under its official seal,
setting forth the amount of its capital stock authorized by law,
and the amount actually issued, the amount of its assets and liabil-
ities, the character of the business to be transacted in this State,
designating the place or places of its principal office or offices
and the name or names of its agent or agents to reside in this
State, with the place or places of their residence, upon whom legal
process issued out of any court of this State, may at any time be
served in any action, at the suit of the State of Maryland, or of
any county or incorporated city or town of this State, or of any
citizen or citizens of this State, or of any corporation organized
under the laws of this State, which said charter, certificate or act
of incorporation, and sworn statement as aforesaid, when received
by the Secretary of State, shall be recorded at length by him in a
well-bound book to be kept for that purpose, and a copy or copies
thereof under the hand and seal of the Secretary of State shall
be receivable in evidence in any suit at law or in equity, in any
of the courts of this State by or against such foreign corpora-
tions, for the purpose of proving the existence or act of incorpo-
ration of such foreign corporation as fully as its charter duly
certified would do, and also all other facts set forth therein.

1898, ch. 870.

109 B. At the time of receiving said certified copy of said
charter, certificate or act of incorporation, together with the