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 parte applications of utilities for permission 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 proceeding's 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.

THE STATE INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT
COMMISSION

741 Equitable Building, Baltimore.

Name. Term Expires. Postoffice.
William F. Broening, Chairman 1940 .. Baltimore
Reno S. Harp .. .. .. .. ........ ..1941 .. .. .. Frederick
Robert H. Carr .. 1938 .. Baltimore
Omar D. Crothers .. 1939 Elkton
Dr. Charles S. Warner....................1942 . .. .. Forest Hill

Secretary, Albert E. Brown. Baltimore.

Adolph F. Schuch, Administrative Assistant, Baltimore.
The State Industrial Accident Commission was created by Chapter
800 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1914 and provided for
three commissioners to be appointed by the Governor, not more than
two of whom shall be of the same political party. After the creation
of the first Commission the term of a commissioner was for a period
of six years.

At the session of the General Assembly of Maryland in 1935 the
personnel of the Commission was increased to five, not more than
three of whom shall belong to the same political party, two of whom