1100 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 402

attempt to cause a fire was of incendiary origin, the commis-
sioner or said special deputy may arrest the supposed incen-
diary or cause him to be arrested and charged with the crime;
and shall transmit a copy of the testimony so taken to the
state's attorney for the county or city wherein said fire or at-
tempt to cause a fire occurred; and upon the request of the
owner or insurer of any property destroyed or injured by fire,
or in which an attempt to cause a fire may have occurred, the
said commissioner or special deputy shall make a written re-
port to the person requesting the same, of the result of the
examination made by him regarding said property. The com-
missioner shall anually report to the governor the results of
all examinations made by him and his said deputy.

SEC. 55. Special Deputy for Investigation of Fires. That
in order to carry out and perform the powers and duties con-
ferred by the preceding section, the commissioner is authorized
to appoint and remove at pleasure an additional deputy, at
such compensation as may be approved by the board of public
works, not exceeding, however, $2,000 per annum, and such
additional clerical assistance, receiving such compensation, as
the said commissioner, with the approval of the board of pub-
lic works, may deem necessary; provided, however, that the
total compensation and expenses authorized by this sub-title
shall not exceed in the aggregate the sum of $4,000 per annum.

SEC. 56. Examination of Persons and Premises. The com-
missioner and his said special deputy shall have power to sub-
poena witnesses, and to compel their attendance before him or
them to testify in relation to any matter which is, by the pro-
visions of this article, a subject of inquiry and investigation
by the commissioner or deputy, and shall also have power to
cause to be produced before him or them such papers as he or
they may require in making such examinations. The commis-
sioner and special deputy shall be and they are hereby author-
ized to administer oaths and affirmations to persons appearing
as witnesses before him or them; and false swearing in any
matter of proceeding aforesaid shall be deemed perjury and
shall be punishable as such. The commissioner and special
deputy shall have the authority at all times of the day or night,
in performance of the duties imposed by the provisions of this
act, to enter upon and examine any building or premises where
any fires or attempt to cause fires shall have occurred, or wThich
at the time may be burning, and also the power to enter upon
at any time any building adjacent to that in which the fire