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72 MARYLAND MANUAL. boat and ferry companies, toll bridges and also motor vehicles engaged in the public transportation of passengers and freight. The Commis- sion also has jurisdiction over gas companies, electric companies, tele- phone companies, telegraph companies, water companies and heating and refrigerating companies. The jurisdiction of the Commission is limited to operations within the State of Maryland. The supervision and jurisdiction of the Commission covers the serv- ice furnished, the rates charged, the capitalization, the issue of stocks, bonds, and other securities, the right to exercise franchises granted by the counties and by the cities the right to fix rates for service and to fix standards for service, and general supervisory and regulatory pow- ers over the utilities subject to its jurisdiction. In the exercise of this supervision and jurisdiction, it is the purpose of the Commission to insure and maintain to the public safe and adequate service, at just and reasonable rates, without unjust discrimination. The Commission is given power to investigate and ascertain the fair value of the property of corporations subject to its jurisdiction. An annual report showing the financial conditions and operations of each utility under its jurisdiction is required to be filed with the Com- mission. By legislation enacted subsequent to the original Act, the Commis- sion has been given power to fix minimum as well as maximum rates, to suspend schedules of rates pending the determination of the reason- ableness of the rates proposed, and utilities are forbidden to abandon or discontinue the exercise of franchises without the permission and approval of the Commission. The Commission has also been authorized to make joint investiga- tions, hold joint hearings, and issue joint or concurrent orders in con- junction or concurrence with any official board or commission of any State or of the United States, under agreements or compacts between States or under the concurrent power of States to regulate interstate commerce, or as an agency of the Federal Government, or otherwise. The Commission is required by law to test all electric meters and gas meters before installation, and to test meters upon request of the consumer. The Commission maintains a laboratory in which daily tests are made of the gas furnished in the City of Baltimore, and its inspectors also make regular and frequent tests of the gas and electricity fur- nished in other parts of the State. The proceedings before the Commission frequently require hearings, and all such hearings are public and are reported by a stenographer, and a permanent record thereof is kept. In the case of ex parts applications of utilities for pennission to exercise franchises, to issue securities or otherwise invoking the juris- diction of the Commission, the applicant is required to advertise, at its own expense, giving notice of the hearing to be had, so that the public interested may be advised thereof and given the opportunity to be heard with respect thereto. One of the most important amendments to the original Act is that providing for representation by counsel of the interests of the public in all proceedings before the Commission. The Act now provides for the appointment by the Governor of an experienced and qualified law- yer as People’s Counsel, and it is the duty of this official to represent the interests of complainants and of the public generally in proceedings before the Commission. By Chapter 485 of the Acts of 1931 the Commission is given full jurisdiction over taxicabs operating in Baltimore City. One require- ment of this law is that all such taxicabs shall carry insurance or give bond to indemnify the public. |
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Maryland Manual, 1935
| Volume 152, Page 72 View pdf image (33K) |
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