ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR. 1137

and audit the annual statements of all insurance campanies
authorized to do business in this state, the books, accounts and
affairs of the insurance department and do such other auditing
as the commissioner may direct. He shall also, when so directed
by the commissioner, assist in the examination of companies,
and shall receive the annual compensation of one thousand
dollars and, when engaged in the examination of companies,
the per diem provided by Section 50 to be paid by the Com-
panies examined by him.

SEC. 10. Clerks. The commissioner may also employ such
clerks and assistants as may be necessary for the proper dis-
charge of the duties of his department, at such compensation
as shall be fixed and provided by the budget.

SEC. 11. General Powers and Duties of 'Commissioner. It
shall be the duty of the commissioner to see that all the laws
of this state governing insurance companies or relating to the
business of insurance are faithfully executed. He shall keep
on file in his office duly certified copies of the charter, declara-
tion of organization or deed of settlement of every insurance
company authorized to do business in this state, and all other
certificates and documents required by this article to be filed
•with him, and shall furnish any such company applying there-
for, certified copies of said documents filed in his department.
He shall furnish in December of each year to the companies
required by this article to report to him, the necessary1 blank
forms for the statements required, and shall carry out, fulfill
and enforce all the provisions of this article with reference to
the supervision and regulation of insurance companies and the
business of insurance. It shall be his duty to report in detail
to the attorney general any violations of the laws relative to
insurance companies or the business of insurance, and he shall
have power to institute suits and prosecutions, either by the
attorney general or such other attorney as the attorney general
may select, for any violation of the provisions of this article.
The commissioner is a necessary party to any proceedings
instituted for the purpose of closing up the affairs of any com-
pany, when the same shall not be in the name of the State of
Maryland. The commissioner and the deputy commissioner
shall have the power to administer oaths to all witnesses who
appear before them, or either of them, in connection with any
examination, investigation or hearing1, and also to require
agents and brokers to produce any books, policies or papers