ART. 23] PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE IN THE COURTS. 757

1910, ch. 180, sec. 47 (p. 390).

461. In all actions and proceedings in court arising under this sub-
title, all processes shall be served and the practice and rules of evidence
shall be the same as in civil actions, except as otherwise herein pro-
vided. Every sheriff or other officer empowered to execute civil pro-
cesses shall execute any process issued under the provisions of this sub-
title, and shall receive such compensation therefor as may be prescribed
by law for similar services.

1910, ch. 180, sec. 48 (p. 390).

462. No person shall be excused from testifying or from producing
books, accounts and papers in any proceeding based upon or growing
out of the provisions of this sub-title on the ground or for the reason
that the testimony or evidence, documentary or otherwise, required by
him may tend to incriminate him or subject him to penalty or for-
feiture; but no person having so testified shall be prosecuted or sub-
jected to any penalty or forfeiture for on or account of any transaction,
matter or thing concerning which he may have testified or produced any
documentary evidence; provided, that no person so testifying shall be
exempted from prosecution or punishment for perjury in so testifying.

1910, ch. 180, sec. 49 (p. 390).

463. A substantial compliance with the requirements of this sub-
title shall be sufficient to give effect to all rules, orders, acts and regula-
tions of the commission, and they shall not be declared inoperative,
illegal or void, for any omission of a technical nature in respect thereto.

1910, ch. 180, sec. 50 (p. 390).

464. The commission, its agents, experts and inspectors shall have
power to enter upon any premises occupied by any corporation to which
the provision of this sub-title or any of them are applicable, for the
purpose of making the examinations, inspections, valuations and tests
contemplated or provided for in this sub-title, and to set up and use on
such premises any apparatus and appliances and occupy reasonable
space therefor for the purpose of said examinations, inspections and
tests.

1910, ch. 180, sec. 51 (p. 391).

465. It shall be the duty of the state auditor to make biennial
examinations and audits, comprehensive and thorough in character, of
all the receipts, expenditures, costs, expenses and pecuniary or fiscal
affairs or concerns of the said public service commission, to render and
furnish to the governor, the comptroller and the treasurer, respectively,
a full and detailed report of each of said biennial examinations and
audits, the first of said biennial reports to be delivered to said officials,
respectively, upon the first day of January, and the second of said
reports to be delivered to said officials upon the first day of July of each
and every year ensuing the passage of this act.