1082                              LAWS OF MARYLAND                        [CH. 553

or delivery of contracts of insurance to residents of this State or to
corporations authorized to do business therein, (2) the solicitation of
applications for such contracts, (3) the collection of premiums, mem-
bership fees, assessments or other considerations for such contracts,
or (4) any other transaction of insurance business, is equivalent to
and shall constitute an appointment by such insurer of the Com-
missioner and his successor or successors in office, to be its true and
lawful attorney, upon whom may be served all lawful process in any
action, suit, or proceeding instituted by or on behalf of an insured
or beneficiary arising out of any such contract of insurance, and any
such act shall be signification of its agreement that such service
of process is of the same legal force and validity as personal service
of process in this State upon such insurer.

205.    Manner of Service of Process; Duties.

Such service of process shall be made by delivering to and leaving
with the Commissioner or some person in apparent charge of his
office two copies thereof and the payment to him of a fee of $5.00,
which shall be taxed in the costs of the proceeding. The Commis-
sioner shall account quarterly to the Comptroller for the fees col-
lected by him under these sections and shall pay the same upon ac-
counting to the State Treasurer for the use of the State, after de-
ducting expenses for mailing as provided herein. The Commissioner
shall forthwith mail by registered mail one of the copies of such pro-
cess to the defendant at its last known principal place of business,
and shall keep a record of all process so served upon him. Such serv-
ice of process is sufficient, provided notice of such service and a copy
of the process are sent within ten days thereafter by registered mail
by plaintiff or plaintiff's attorney to the defendant at its last known
principal place of business, and the defendant's receipt, or receipt
issued by the post office with which the letter is registered, showing
the name of the sender of the letter and the name and address of the
person to whom the letter is addressed, and the affidavit of the plain-
tiff or plaintiff's attorney showing a compliance herewith are filed
with the clerk of the court in which such action is pending on or
before the date the defendant is required to appear, or within such
further time as the court may allow.

206.    Service Upon Agent Other Than Commissioner.

Service of process in any such action, suit or proceeding shall in
addition to the manner provided in section 205 be valid if served
upon any person within this State who, in this State on behalf of
such insurer, is

(1)   Soliciting insurance, or

(2)   Making, issuing or delivering any contract of insurance, or

(3)   Collecting or receiving any premium, membership fee, assess-
ment or other consideration for insurance; and a copy of such process
is sent within ten days thereafter by registered mail by the plaintiff
or plaintiff's attorney to the defendant at the last known principal
place of business of the defendant, and the defendant's receipt, or
the receipt issued by the post office with which the letter is regis-
tered, showing the name of the sender of the letter and the name and
address of the person to whom the letter is addressed, and the affi-
davit of the plaintiff or plaintiff's attorney showing a compliance