1234 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 510

2. Bates shall not be excessive, inadequate or unfairly dis-
criminatory.

3. Due consideration shall be given to past and prospective
loss experience within and outside this State, to the conflagra-
tion and catastrophe hazards, to a reasonable margin for
underwriting profits and contingencies, to dividends, savings
or unabsorbed premium deposits allowed or returned by in-
surer to their policyholders, members or subscribers, to past
and prospective expenses both country-wide and those specially
applicable to this State, and to all other relevant factors
within and outside this State; and in the case of fire insur-
ance rates consideration shall be given to the experience of
the fire insurance business during a period of not less than
the most recent five-year period for which such experience is
available.

(b) Except to the extent necessary to meet the provisions
of subdivision 2 of paragraph (a) of this sub-section, uni-
formity among insurers in any matters within the scope of
this sub-section is neither required nor prohibited.

(c) Kates made in accordance with this sub-section may be
used subject to the provisions of this Act.

4. RATE FILINGS.

(a) Every insurer shall file with the commissioner, except
as to inland marine risks which by general custom of the
business are not written according to manual rates or rating
plans, every manual, minimum, class rate, rating schedule or
rating plan and every other rating rule, and every modifica-
tion of any of the foregoing which it proposes to use. Every
such filing shall state the proposed effective date thereof, and
shall indicate the character and extent of the coverage con-
templated.

When a filing is not accompanied by the information upon
which the insurer supports such filing and the commissioner
does not have sufficient information to determine whether such
filing meets the requirements of the Act he shall require such
insurer to furnish the information upon which it supports
such filing and in such event the waiting period shall com-
mence as of the date such information is furnished. The
information furnished in support of a filing may include (1)
the experience or judgment of the insurer or rating organiza-
tion making the filing, (2) its interpretation of any statistical
data it relies upon, (3) the experience of other insurers or
rating organizations, or (4) any other relevant factors. A
filing and any supporting information shall be open to public
inspection after the filing becomes effective. Specific inland