installment sales finance companies. All companies engaged in install-
ment sales financing must secure a license from this office and make an
annual report to it. The Division also conducts periodic examinations
of the books and accounts of all licensees, investigates complaints of
violations of the law, and institutes legal action to prosecute offenders
(Code 1957, Art. 83, sees. 128-65).

Appropriations 1959 1960

General Funds $63,697 $67,468
Staff: II.

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

Chairman: Stanford Hoff, 1961

Francis V. du Pont, 1963; Albert L. Sklar, 1965
Stanley Scherr, General Counsel, 1961
Rudolf A. Carrico, People's Counsel
Albert L. Deen, Executive Secretary
Hugh H. Hunter, Chief Engineer
E. Edward McLean, Chief Auditor

301 W. Preston Street, Baltimore I Telephone: Vernon 7-9000

The Public Service Commission, established in 1910, is composed
of three members appointed by the Governor for six-year terms, one
term expiring every two years. The Governor also appoints the General
Counsel for a six-year term and the People's Counsel, who serves at
the pleasure of the Governor (Code 1957, Art. 78, sees. 6, 6, 12, 14).
The Public Service Commission has jurisdiction over common carriers,
including steam and electric railroads, street railways, sleeping car
companies, bus lines, express companies, steamboat companies, power
boats, ferry companies, carriers by aircraft, toll bridges, and all car-
riers, generally, engaged in the public transportation of passengers or
freight within the State of Maryland; and over all taxicabs operating
in the City of Baltimore. The Commission also exercises jurisdiction
over all gas, electric, telephone, telegraph, water, sewage disposal,
heating and refrigerating companies operating within the State. The
Commission has the power to fix both minimum and maximum rates
and to suspend schedules pending the determination of the reasonable-
ness of the proposed rates. Public utilities may not abandon or discon-
tinue the exercise of any franchise without permission of the Com-
mission. The Commission tests all gas and electric meters before
installation; it also tests previously installed meters at the request of
the consumer. It maintains a laboratory in which it makes daily tests
of gas furnished in the City of Baltimore. It also makes regular and
frequent tests of the gas and electricity furnished in other parts of the
State (Code 1957, Art. 78, sees. 1-107).

The Commission is also authorized to make joint investigations,
hold Joint hearings, and issue joint or other concurrent orders in
conjunction with any official board or commission of any state or the
Federal government under agreements and compacts between states,
under the concurrent powers of states to regulate interstate commerce
as an agency of the Federal government, or otherwise (Code 1957,
Art. 78, sec. 59). The Public Service Commission is also represented on
joint boards created by the Interstate Commerce Commission under
the Federal Motor Carriers Act to hear and pass upon applications
and proceedings pertaining to interstate motor carrier operation con-
ducted in or through not more than three states.