1204 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 492

poration, have full power and authority to exchange contracts
of the kind and character herein mentioned. The right to
exchange such contracts is hereby declared to be incidental to
the purposes for which such corporations are organized and
as much granted as the rights and powers expressly conferred.

SEC. 140. Certificate of Authority. Each attorney oy whom
or through whom are issued any policies of or contracts for
indemnity of the character referred to under this sub-title,
shall procure from the insurance commissioner annually a
certificate of authority stating that all the requirements of this
Act have been complied with, and upon such compliance and
the payment of the fees and taxes required by this Act, the in-
surance commissioner shall issue such certificate.

SEC. 141. Taxes and Fees; Agents' Licenses. In lieu of all
other taxes, licenses or fees whatever, state or local, such at-
torney, except such as shall have the principal office located
in this state, shall pay annually on account of the transaction
of such business in this state, a license fee of twenty-five dollars
and a tax of two per cent, upon the gross premiums or deposits
during the preceding calendar year, deducting all amounts
returned to subscribers or credited to their accounts other than
for losses; except that where other states collect from recip-
rocal or inter-insurers having the principal office of the attorney
located in this state and exchanging indemnity in such states,
fees, taxes, or charges in excess of or less than those pre-
scribed by this section, then such attorneys having their prin-
cipal offices in such states and exchanging indemnity in this
state, shall pay to the insurance commissioner of Maryland
the same fees, taxes and charges as are collected or would be
collected by such other states from reciprocals or inter-insurers
having the principal office of the attorney located in Maryland
and exchanging indemnity in such states; and where any such
attorney shall appoint an agent, solicitor or representative to
solicit or negotiate contracts of insurance in this state, he shall
first comply with section 60 of this article, and upon full com-
pliance with said section, said agent, solicitor or representative,
shall receive a license upon paying the following fees, to wit:
For license to represent such association or exchange issuing
contracts or giving coverage against loss by fire, a fee of five
dollars, and for coverage other than fire, a fee of two dollars.
All such licenses shall expire at midnight on the 31st. day of
December following the date of issue.