73S CORPORATIONS. [ART. 23

of accounts, records and memoranda to be kept by common carriers,
including the accounts, records and memoranda of the movement of
traffic, as well as the receipts and expenditures of moneys. The system
of accounts established by the commission and the form of accounts,
records and memoranda prescribed by it as provided shall conform, as
nearly as possible, to those from time to time established and prescribed
by the interstate commerce commission under the provisions of the act of
congress entitled "An Act to Regulate Commerce," approved February
fourth, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven, as amended by
the act approved June twenty-ninth, one thousand nine hundred and
six, and amendments thereto. The commission shall at all times have
access to all accounts, records and memoranda kept by common carriers
and other corporations subject to the provisions of this sub-title, and
may prescribe the accounts in which particular outlays and receipts
shall be entered, and may designate any of its officers or employees,
who shall thereupon have authority under the order of the commission
to inspect and examine any and all accounts, records and memoranda
kept by such corporations. When the commission has prescribed the
forms of accounts, records and memoranda to be kept by such corpora-
tions, it shall be unlawful for them to keep any other accounts, records
or memoranda than those so prescribed, or those prescribed under the
authority of the United States. Any employee or agent of the commis-
sion who divulges any fact or information which may come to his
knowledge during the course of any such inspection or examination,
except in so far as he may be directed by the commission, or by a
court or judge thereof, or authorized by law, shall be guilty of a misde-
meanor.

1910, ch. 180, sec. 26 (p. 368).

438. No common carrier, railroad corporation, or street railroad
corporation, shall begin the construction of a railroad or street railroad,
or any extension thereof, or exercise any franchise or right under any
provision of the railroad law, or of any other law not heretofore lawfully
exercised, without first having obtained the permission and approval
of the commission The commission shall have power to grant the
permission and approval herein specified whenever it shall, after due
hearing, determine that such construction or such exercise of the fran-
chise or privilege is necessary or convenient for the public service.

No franchise, nor any right to or under any franchise to own or
operate a railroad or street railroad, shall be assigned, transferred or
leased, nor shall any contract or agreement with reference to or affecting
any such franchise or right be valid or of any force or effect whatso-
ever, unless the assignment, transfer, lease, contract or agreement
shall have been approved by the commission. The permission and
approval of the commission to the exercise of a franchise under this
section, or to the assignment, transfer or lease of a franchise under this
section, shall not be construed to revive or validate any lapsed or