ART. 23] GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANIES. 745

shall have been filed with the proper commission; but nothing in this
subdivision shall operate to prevent the commission from fixing proper,
just and reasonable rates and charges to be made for service, as author-
ized in this article.

1910, ch. 180, sec. 31 3/4 (p. 376).

445. The commission shall have the general supervision of all per-
sons and gas corporations and electrical corporations having authority
under any general or special law, or under any charter or franchise, to
lay down, erect or maintain wires, pipes, conduits, ducts or other fixtures
in, over or under the streets, highways and public places of any munic-
ipality, for the purpose of furnishing or distributing gas, both natural
and artificial, or of furnishing or transmitting electricity for light,
heat or power, or maintaining underground conduits or ducts for elec-
trical conductors.

Investigate and ascertain, from time to time, the quality of gas
supplied by persons and corporations, examine the methods employed
by such persons, corporations, in manufacturing, selling, delivering or
supplying gas or electricity for light, heat or power, and in transmitting
the same, and have power to order such improvements as will best
promote the public interest, preserve the public health and protect
those using such gas or electricity and those employed in the manu-
facture and distribution thereof, or in the maintenance and operation
of the works, wires, poles, lines, conduits, ducts and systems in connec-
tion therewith.

Have power by order to fix the standard illuminating power and
purity of gas, not less than that prescribed by law, both natural gas and
gas to be manufactured, distributed or sold by persons, corporations,
for lighting, heating or power purposes, and to prescribe methods of
regulation of the electric supply system as to the use for incandescent
lighting, and fix the initial efficiency of incandescent lamps furnished
by the persons, corporations, generating and selling electric current for
lighting, and by order to require the gas so manufactured, distributed
or sold to equal the standard so fixed by it, and to establish regulations
as to pressure at which gas shall be delivered. For the purpose of
determining whether the gas manufactured, distributed or sold by such
persons or corporations for lighting, heating or power purposes con-
forms to the standard of illuminating power and' purity, and, of its own
motion, examine and investigate the methods employed in bringing
in, obtaining, manufacturing, delivering and supplying gas, and shall
have access through its members or persons employed and authorized by
it to make such examinations and investigations to all parts of the
manufacturing plants owned, used or operated for the manufacture,
transmission or distribution of gas or electricity by any such person
or corporation. Any employee or agent of the commission 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 misdemeanor.