tion, the commission shall fix a time for hearing of the same, and shall proceed as promptly as may be possible to hear and consider any matter relative and material thereto which may be presented in support of said protest. If after hearing any contest of such valuation, under the provisions of this sub-title, the commission is of the opinion that the tentative valuation is correct, it shall make such changes as shall make the same a fair valuation of such property and shall issue an order to make such corrected valuation final. All final valuations by the commission shall be prima facie evidence of the value of said property in proceedings had in pursuance of this sub-title.

1910, ch. 180, sec. 31.

443. This sub-title shall apply to the manufacture and furnishing of gas for light, heat or power, and the furnishing of natural gas for light, heat or power, and the gèneration, furnishing and transmission of electricity for light, heat or power.

1910, ch. 180, sec. 311⁄2.

444. Every gas corporation and every electrical corporation shall furnish and provide such service, instrumentalities and facilities as shall be reasonably safe and adequate and in all respects just and reasonable. All charges made or demanded by any such gas corporation and electrical corporation for gas, electricity or any service rendered or to be rendered, shall be just and reasonable and not more than allowed by law or by order of the commission; "and all acts or parts of acts heretofore passed and now existing, prescribing or limiting the price at which any gas corporation or electrical corporation, or any other corporation subject to this sub-title, may furnish, sell or dispose of its gas, electricity or other product or utility are hereby repealed, it being the intent of this sub-title that the powers of the commission herein created to ascertain the price of such gas or electricity or other product of utility as provided for herein, shall supersede all such Acts or parts of Acts aforesaid." Every unjust or unreasonable charge made or de manded for gas, electricity or any such service, or in connection therewith, or in excess of that allowed by law or by the order of the commission, is prohibited.

No gas corporation or electrical corporation shall directly or indirectly, by any special rate, rebate, drawback or other device or method, charge, demand, collect or receive from any person or corporation a greater or less compensation for gas or electricity, or for any service rendered, or to be rendered, or in connection therewith, except as authorized in this sub-title, than it charges, demands, collects or receives from any other person or corporation for doing a like and contemporaneous service with respect thereto, under the same or substantially similar circumstances or conditions.

No gas corporation or electrical corporation shall make or grant any undue or unreasonable preference or advantage to any person, corporation or locality, or to any particular description of service in any respect whatsoever, or subject any particular person, corporation or locality or any particular description of service to any undue or unreasonable prejudice or disadvantage in any respect whatsoever.

Nothing in this sub-title shall be taken to prohibit a gas or an electrical corporation from establishing a sliding scale for the automatic adjustment of charges for gas, electricity or any service rendered, or to be rendered, and the dividends to be paid to stockholders of such gas corporations or electrical corporation, provided that the sliding scale shall have been filed with the proper commission; but nothing in this sub-division shall operate to prevent the commission from fixing proper, just and reasonable rates and charges to be made for service, as authorized in this Article.*

1910, ch. 180, sec. 314. 1914, ch. 445, sec. 314.

445. The commission shall have the general supervi sion of all persons and gas corporations and electrical corporations and other corporations having authority under any general or special law, or under any charter or franchise, to lay down, erect or maintain wires, pipes, conduits, ducts or other fixtures in, over or under the streets, highways and public places of any municipality, for the purpose of furnishing or distributing gas, both natural and artificial, or of furnishing, or

Gregg vs. Public Service Commission, 121 Md. 1.

transmitting electricity for light, heat or power, or maintaining underground conduits or ducts for electrical conductors.

Investigate and ascertain, from time to time, the quality of gas supplied by persons and corporations, examine the methods employed by such persons and corporations, in manufacturing, selling, delivering or supplying gas or electricity for light, heat or power, and in transmitting the same, and have power to order such improvements as will best promote the public interests, preserve the public health and protect those using such gas or electricity and those employed in the manufacture and distribution thereof, or in the maintenance and operation of the works, wires, poles, lines, conduits, ducts and systems in connection therewith.

Have power by order to fix from time to time such reasonable standards as it may deem proper for the measurement of the purity of gas, and of the illuminating power of gas, and of the heating power of gas, for lighting, heating, or power purposes, whether natural gas distributed or sold, or gas manufactured, distributed, or sold by persons or gas corporations for such lighting, heating or power purposes, and to prescribe from time to time the efficiency of the electric supply system, of the current supplied, and of the lamps furnished by the persons or electrical corporations generating and selling elec tric current, and by order to require said natural or other gas to equal the standards so fixed by it, and to prescribe from time to time the reasonable minimum and maximum pressure at which said natural or other gas shall be delivered by said persons or gas corporations.

For the purpose of determining whether said natural or other gas for lighting, heating or power purposes conforms to said standards of illuminating power, heating power, purity and pressure, and for the purpose of determining whether the efficiency of the electric supply system and the current supplied and the lamps furnished conforms with the orders issued by the commission, the commission shall have power of its own motion to examine and investigate the plants and methods employed in manufacturing, distributing, delivering and supplying said natural or other gas or electricity, and shall have access through its members or persons employed and authorized by it to make

such examinations and investigations, to all parts of the manufacturing or other plants so owned, used or operated for the manufacture, transmission, distribution or delivery of said natural or other gas or electricity by any such person, gas or electrical corporation. Any employee or agent of the commission who divulges any fact or information which may come to his knowledge during the course of any such inspection or examination, except in so far as he may be directed by the commission or by a court or judge thereof or authorized by law, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Have full and plenary power to value the plant, property, appurtenances, assets and franchises of such persons or corporations.

Have power, in its discretion, to prescribe uniform methods of keeping accounts, records and books, to be observed by the persons, gas corporations and electrical corporations engaged in the manufacture, sale and distribution of gas and electricity for light, heat or power.

Examine all persons and corporations under its supervision, keep informed as to the methods employed by them in the transaction of their business and see that their property is maintained and operated for the security and accommodation of the public and in compliance with the provisions of the law and of their franchises and charters.

Require every person and corporation under its supervision to submit to an annual report, verified by the oath of the president, treasurer or general manager thereof, showing in detail: (1) The amount of its authorized capital stock and the amount thereof issued and outstanding; (2) the amount of its authorized bonded indebtedness and the amount of its bonds and other forms of evidence of indebtedness issued and outstanding; (3) its receipts and expenditures during the preceding year; (4) the amount paid as dividends upon its stock and as interest upon its bonds; (5) the names and amounts paid as salary to each officer, and the amounts paid as wages to its employees; (6) the location of its plant or plants and system, with a full description of its property and franchises, stating in detail how each franchise stated to be owned was acquired, and (7) such other facts pertaining to the operating and

maintenance of the plant and system and the affairs of such persons or corporations as may be required by the commission. Such reports shall be in the form, cover the period and be submitted at the time prescribed by the commission. The commission may, from time to time, make changes and additions in such forms, giving to the persons, or corporations and municipalities six months' notice before the time fixed by the commission as the expiration of the fiscal year of any changes or additions which would require any alteration in the method or form of keeping their accounts for the ensuing year. When such report is defective or believed to be erroneous the commission shall notify the person or corporation making such report to amend the same within thirty days. Any such person or corporation which shall neglect to make any such report within the time specified by the commission, or which shall fail to correct any such report within 30 days after notice shall be liable to a penalty of one hundred dollars, and an additional penalty of one hundred dollars for each day after the prescribed time for which it shall neglect to file or correct the same, to be sued for in the name of the State of Maryland. The amount recovered in any such action shall be paid to the State Treasury, one-fourth thereof, however, to be paid to the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore. The commission may extend the time herein limited for cause shown.

Have power, either through its members or inspectors, or employees, duly authorized by it, to enter in or upon and to inspect the property, buildings, plants, factories, powerhouses and offices of any such corporations or persons.

Have power to examine the books and affairs of any such corporation, persons, and to compel the production before it of books and papers pertaining to the affairs being investigated by it.

Have power, whether as a commission or through its mem bers, to supœna witnesses, take testimony and administer oaths to witnesses in any proceeding or examination instituted before it, or conducted by it in reference to any matter within its jurisdiction upon this Article.

The commission shall appoint inspectors of gas and electric meters, whose duty it shall be to inspect, examine, prove and