750                               LAWS OF MARYLAND                        [CH. 441

People's Counsel
13. (Appointment, qualifications, tenure, compensation.)

The People's Counsel shall be an attorney at law of this State.
He shall be appointed by the Governor and shall hold office at the
pleasure of the Governor. He shall receive an annual salary as pro-
vided in the budget.

H. (Functions.)

The People's Counsel shall have the following powers and duties:

(1)  He shall appear before the commission and the courts on behalf
of the interests of the public in general in any matter or proceeding,
of which the commission has original jurisdiction and in which he
may deem the public interest to be involved, including but not limited
to proceedings with regard to the rates, service, or practices of any
public service company or any violation of the provisions of this
article. He shall have, in such appearance, all the rights of counsel
for a party in interest, including but not limited to the right to
present his case, to cross examine, to object, to be heard, and to
appeal.

(2)  He shall make such investigations as he may deem necessary
to the intelligent performance of the duties imposed by the preceding
subparagraph.

(3)  He shall have full access to the commission's records, shall
be entitled to call upon the assistance of the commission's experts,
and shall have the benefit of all other facilities or information of the
commission in carrying out his duties.

Personnel of the Commission in General
15. (Prohibited Conduct.)

(a)  No personnel of the commission shall, during their service,
hold any official relation or connection with any public service com-
pany, or have any pecuniary interest therein, whether as the holder
of stock or other securities or otherwise.

(b)  No personnel of the commission shall hold any office or posi-
tion, or be engaged in any business or avocation which is incompatible
with the duties of their office or employment with the commission.

(c)  No personnel of the commission shall solicit, suggest, request
or recommend directly or indirectly to any public service company the
appointment of any person to any office or place of employment.

(d)  No personnel of the commission shall accept from any public
service company, its officers, agents or employees, any present, gift,
or gratuity, or any special consideration of any kind whatsoever.

(e)  No personnel of the commission shall divulge to any person
any fact or information learned during the course of inspection of
the plant, or the examination of the records, of any public service
company, except in so far as may be directed by the commission or
a court, or as may be authorized by law.

(f)  No personnel of the commission shall violate any of the pro-
visions of this article.