1670 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 907

pertaining to the qualification of foreign corporations for
the doing of business in this State. Any such corporation
shall, before constructing or operating such extensions, by an
instrument executed and acknowledged on its behalf by its
president or vice-president, under its seal attested by its sec-
retary, and filed with the Secretary of State, designate the
Secretary of State its agent to accept service of process on
its behalf. Thereafter, such corporation shall have all the
rights, powers, privileges and immunities of a cooperative. In
the event any process shall be served upon the Secretary of
State, he shall forthwith forward the same by registered mail
to such corporation at the address thereof specified in the
aforesaid instrument.

488. Fees. The State Tax Commission shall charge and
collect for:

(a) Filing articles of incorporation, ten dollars ($10);

(b) Filing articles of amendment, ten dollars ($10);
(c) Filing articles of consolidation or merger, ten dollars
($10);

(d) Filing articles of conversion, ten dollars ($10);

(e) Filing certificates of election to dissolve, ten dollars
($10);

(f) Filing articles of dissolution, ten dollars ($10); and

(g) Filing certificates of change of principal office, or of
name or address of resident agent, two dollars ($2).

489. Exemption from Excise and Income Taxes—License
Fee. Each cooperative and each foreign corporation doing
business in this State pursuant to this subheading shall pay
annually, on or before the first day of July, to the State Tax
Commission, a fee of ten dollars ($10), but shall be exempt
from all other excise and income taxes whatsoever.

490. Protection of Cooperative's Territory, (a) When-
ever a cooperative or a group of persons which has formed
a temporary organization with the intention of forming a
cooperative or a foreign corporation transacting business in
this State pursuant to this subheading, (herein called the "fil-
ing corporation"), shall file with the Maryland Public Service
Commission (hereinafter called the "Commission") a map or
maps indicating the area or areas in which the operations
of said filing corporation are intended to be conducted, to-
gether with a statement verified by oath or affirmation to the
effect that a majority of the potential users of electric energy,
not then receiving central station electric service in said area
or areas, have signified in writing their willingness to take
service from the proposed system of said filing corporation
it shall be unlawful for an electric utility, power and light