SPIRO T. AGNEW, Governor                      1405

fare activities, except State-aided hospitals, receiving financial as-
sistance from the State or with which the State has contracts and
cause a copy of such charges to be served on such corporation, as-
sociation, institution or agency; and shall have power to issue sum-
monses for witnesses and documents, which summonses shall be
duly served, as are other similar writs, by any sheriff to whom the
same shall be directed, and to administer oaths, and take testi-
mony which it shall cause to be transcribed and included in its
report. The Governor, with the approval of the Board of Public
Works, is hereby authorized and empowered to withhold, in whole
or in part, further payments to any such institution or agency out
of current or future appropriations, upon recommendation of the
State Department of Public Welfare if in its judgment the facts
warrant, and by budget amendment to transfer any part of such
appropriation so withdrawn to any other institution or agency of a
like nature, upon recommendation of the State Department of Pub-
lic Welfare.

(b) Visiting institutions.—The State Department of Public
Welfare shall have further power to visit any State-aided institu-
tion, organization, or agency engaged in welfare activities, and
thoroughly to inspect the management, buildings and equipment
thereof; but such visits and inspections shall be made at reasonably
convenient hours and with reasonable regard to the established dis-
cipline, regulations and customs of the said institution, organization
or agency.]

[10. Payment of appropriations.

All monies appropriated to charitable institutions, organizations
or agencies, excepting hospitals, shall be paid to them on a per
capita basis at the rates and subject to the rules and regulations
established by the State Board of Public Welfare.]

[12.

Designation of agencies.—The State Department may, with the
approval of the Board, designate existing agencies or organizations
within the State as its agents as may in its discretion be desirable
or necessary for the purpose of this article.]

12A.

If any applicant or recipient is incompetent or unable to handle
the assistance granted him, and has no legal guardian, trustee or
committee, the circuit court of the counties, or the equity courts
of Baltimore City, upon petition of any of the local [welfare] de-
partments in the counties or Baltimore City, and with the consent
of the next of kin, next friend, natural guardian or custodian of the
applicant or recipient, shall have the power after notice and hearing
to appoint a competent person as his legal representative for as-
sistance, without bond, whose duty shall be without compensation to
receive, manage and disburse the recipient's assistance on his be-
half and to make true and accurate account thereof as often as
required. Funds in the hands of any such legal representative for
assistance shall be expended only for the purposes contemplated by
this article, or as directed in the grant of assistance.