ART. 23] COMMON CAERIERS. 735

in the name of the State of Maryland. The amount recovered in any
such action shall be paid to the state treasurer, except one-fourth
thereof, which shall be paid to the mayor and city council of Baltimore.

1910, ch. 180, sec. 22 (p. 364)

434. The commission shall investigate the cause of all accidents
on any railroad or street railroad which result in loss of life or injury
to persons or property, and which in its judgment shall require investi-
gation. Every common carrier is hereby required to give notice to
the commission of every accident happening upon any line of railroad
or street railroad, owned, operated, controlled or leased by it, within
thirty days after the happening of every such accident, or in such
manner as the commission may direct. Such notice shall not be
admitted as evidence or used for any purpose against such common
carrier giving such notice in any suit or action for damages growing out
of any matter mentioned in said notice.

The commission may, of its own motion, investigate or make inquiry
in a manner to be determined by it, as to any act or thing done or
omitted to be done by any common carrier, railroad, street railroad,
railroad corporation or street railroad corporation, or other corporation,
subject to its supervision, and the commission must make such inquiry
in regard to any act or thing done or omitted to be done by any such
common carrier or corporation in violation of any provision of law, or
in violation of any order of the commission.

Complaints may be made to the commission by any person or corpora-
tion aggrieved, by petition or complaint in writing setting forth anything
or act done or omitted to be done by any common carrier or corpora-
tion subject to its supervision, in violation, or claimed to be in viola-
tion, of any provision of law or of the terms and conditions of its
franchise or charter, or of any order of the commission, or as being
unfair, unreasonable, unjustly discriminating or unduly preferential.
Upon the presentation of such a complaint the commission shall cause
a copy thereof to be forwarded to the person or corporation complained
of, accompanied by an order, directed to such person or corporation,
requiring that the matter complained of to be satisfied, or that the
charges be answered in writing within a time to be specified by the
commission. If the person or corporation complained of shall make
reparation for any injury alleged and shall cease to commit or to
permit, the violation of law, franchise or order charged in the com-
plaint, and shall notify the commission of that before the time allowed
for answer, the commission need take no further action upon the charge.
If, however, the charges contained in such petition be not thus satisfied,
and it shall appear to the commission that there are reasonable grounds
therefor, it shall investigate such charges in such manner and by such
means as it shall deem proper, and take such action within its power
as the facts justify.

Whenever the commission shall investigate any matter complained
of by any person or corporation aggrieved by any act or omission of a