1600 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 938

soon as practical, conduct a competitive promotional examina-
tion open only to the employees of the Department and who
shall have had at the time of taking the examination not less
than three years experience in the work of the Department.
The Deputy Commissioner, in the event of the absence, death,
resignation, disability, or disqualification of the Commissioner,
or in case the office of the Commissioner shall for any cause
become vacant, shall have and exercise all the powers and
duties vested by law in the Commissioner.

All other employees of the office of Commissioner of Labor
and Statistics shall be transferred to the Department of Labor
and Industry and retain their present classifications under the
Merit System as obtained through examination and shall re-
ceive such salary scales as set by the Salary Standard Board.

The Commissioner is authorized and empowered to appoint
or employ such deputies, inspectors, assistants and employees
of every kind as may be necessary for the performance of the
duties now or hereafter imposed upon him by this or any other
law; provided, however, that such appointments and employ-
ments shall in each and every case be subject to the approval
of the Governor and the compensation to be allowed therefor,
be subject to the approval of the Salary Standard Board.

2. It shall be the duty of the said Commissioner:

1st. To collect statistics concerning and examine into the
condition of labor in this State, with especial reference to
wages, and the causes of strikes and disagreements between
employers and employees.

2nd. To collect information in regard to the agricultural con-
ditions and products of the several counties of the State, the
acreage under cultivation and planted to the various crops,
the character and price of lands, the live stock, et cetera, and
all other matters pertaining to agricultural pursuits, which
may be of general interest and calculated to attract immigra-
tion to the State.

3rd. To collect information in regard to the mineral prod-
ucts of the State, the output of mines, quarries and so forth,
and the manufacturing industries.

4th. To collect information in regard to railroads and
other transportation companies, shipping and commerce.

5th. To keep a bureau of general information, and to this
end all officers anJ institutions of this State, including of-
ficers of the General Assembly, are directed to transmit to
the Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry,
all reports, as soon as published.

6'th. To classify and arrange the information and data so
obtained, and as soon as practicable after entering upon the
duties of its office, publish the same in. substantial book
form and annually thereafter revise and republish the same.