1148 LAWS OF MARYLAND [CH. 613

(f) The Department may act upon its own motion, or
upon the petition of any interested person. On the filing
of a petition concerning any matter within the jurisdiction
of the Department, the Department shall promptly fix a
date for a hearing thereon and shall cause notice of the
hearing to be given. The hearing shall be held without
undue delay after the filing of the petition. The Depart-
ment shall enter its order within ten (10) days after the
hearing.

45H. (a) The Department shall have the power to
summon witnesses, to administer oaths, and to require the
production of records, books and documents for examina-
tion at any hearing or investigation conducted by it. No
person shall be excused from attending and testifying, or
from producing books, papers and records before the
Department or a court, or from obedience to the subpoena
of the Department or a court, on the ground or for the
reason that the testimony or evidence, documentary or
otherwise, required of him may tend to incriminate him
or subject him to a penalty or forfeiture; provided, that
nothing herein contained shall be construed as requiring
any person to produce any books, papers or records or to
testify in response to any inquiry not pertinent to some
question lawfully before such Department or court for
determination. No natural person shall be subjected to
criminal prosecution or to any penalty or forfeiture for
or on account of any transaction, matter or thing concern-
ing which, in spite of his objection, he may be required to
testify or produce evidence, documentary or otherwise,
before the Department or court, or in obedience to its sub-
poena; provided, that no person testifying shall be ex-
empted from prosecution and punishment for perjury com-
mitted in so testifying.

(b) In case of failure or refusal on the part of any
person to comply with the subpoena issued by the Depart-
ment or in case of the refusal of any witness to testify as
to any matter regarding which he may be interrogated,
any court in the State, upon the application of the Depart-
ment, may in term time or vacation issue an attachment
for such person and compel him to comply with such sub-
poena, and to attend before the Department and produce
such records, books and documents for examination and
to give his testimony. Such court shall have the power
to punish for contempt as in the case of disobedience to
a like subpoena issued by the court or for refusal to testify
therein.