722 CORPORATIONS. [ART. 23

mission, and to expedite, in every way possible, final determination of
all such actions and proceedings; to advise the commission and each
commissioner, when so requested, in regard to all matters in connection
with the powers and duties of the commission and of the members
thereof, and generally to perform all duties and services as attorney and
counsel to the commission which the commission may reasonably require
of him.

The assistant, or assistants, appointed by the general counsel shall
perform such duties as the general counsel may prescribe.

All actions and proceedings under this sub-title, and all actions and
proceedings commenced and prosecuted by order of the commission, and
all actions and proceedings to which the commission may be a party
and in which any question arises under this sub-title, or under or con-
cerning any order or action of the commission, shall be preferred over
all other civil causes, except election causes, in all the courts of the State
of Maryland, and shall be heard and determined in preference to all
other civil business pending therein, excepting election causes, irrespec-
tive of position on the dockets of said courts. The same preference shall
be granted upon application of the general counsel to the commission, or
his assistant, in any action or proceedings in which the general counsel
or his assistant may be allowed to intervene.

1910, ch. 180, sec. 7 (p. 349).

419. Every commissioner, the general counsel to the commission,
the secretary of the commission and every person employed or appointed
to office under, in the service or in connection with the said commission,
is hereby forbidden and prohibited to solicit, suggest, request or recom-
mend, directly or indirectly, to any common carrier, railroad corpora-
tion, street railroad corporation, gas company, electric light company,
telephone company, telegraph company, water company and refrigerat-
ing company, or any other company or corporation subject to this sub-
title, or to any of the provisions thereof, or to any officer, attorney, agent
or employee thereof, the appointment of any person to any office, place,
position or appointment. And every common carrier, railroad corpora-
tion, street railroad corporation, gas corporation, electrical corporation,
telephone company, telegraph company, water company and all other
companies or corporations subject to this sub-title, or any of the pro-
visions thereof, and every officer, attorney, agent and employee thereof
is hereby forbidden and prohibited to offer to any commissioner, general
counsel to commission, to the secretary thereof, or to any person
employed by the commission or by the general counsel of the commis-
sion, any office, place, appointment or position, or to offer to give to any
commissioner, to the general counsel to the commission, to his assistant,
to the secretary thereof or to any officer employed or appointed to office,
or to any person employed in the service of the commission or in connec-
tion with the work of said commission, any free pass or transportation
or any reduction in fares, to which the public generally are not entitled