J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                       969

records, to compare character of work and operations on which
persons employed by him are engaged, to question such persons and
to obtain such other information as is reasonably necessary to the
administration and enforcement of this subtitle.

(c) The Commissioner or his authorized representatives shall
have power to examine witnesses under oath, and to require by sub-
poena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production
of any documentary evidence relating to the subject matter of any
investigation undertaken pursuant to this subtitle.

(B) The Commissioner is authorized to endeavor to eliminate pay
practices unlawful under this subtitle by informal methods of con-
ference, conciliation and persuasion, and to supervise the payment
of wages owing to an employee under this subtitle.

(d) (C) The Commissioner shall have the power to issue such ad-
ministrative regulations consistent with the purpose and provisions
of this subtitle as he deems necessary or appropriate for the efficient
administration thereof.

55D.

(a)  An employer who violates the provisions of this subtitle shall
be liable to the employee or employees affected in the amount of
the differential between the wage paid male employees and the
female employees doing the same type of work, and an additional
equal amount as liquidated damages. Action to recover such liability
may be maintained in any court of competent jurisdiction by any
one or more employees for and in behalf of herself or themselves and
other employees similarly situated, and no agreement by any such
employee to work for less than the wage to which such employee
is entitled under this subtitle shall be a defense to any such action.
At the written request of any employee paid less than the wage to
which he or she may be entitled under this subtitle the Commissioner
may take an assignment of such wage claim in trust for the assign-
ing employee and may bring any legal action necessary to collect
such claim, including the liquidated damages provided by this Section.
The court in such action shall, in addition to any judgment awarded
to the plaintiff or plaintiffs, allow a reasonable attorney's fee to be
paid by the defendant, and cost of the action. The Commissioner
shall have power to join various claimant against the employer in
one cause of action. The Attorney General is hereby authorized to
prosecute all civil cases arising under this subtitle which are re-
ferred to him by the Commissioner for said purpose.

(b)  No action may be brought or any prosecution instituted for
any violation of Section 1 of this article unless within one year
after the commission of the act complained of.

55E.

Every employer subject to this subtitle shall make, keep, and
maintain such records of the wages and wage rates, job classifica-
tions, and other terms and conditions of employment of the persons
employed by him, and shall preserve such records for such periods
of time, and shall make such reports therefrom as the Commissioner
shall prescribe.