270 CORPOKATIONS. [ART. 23

buildings, plants, factories, power-houses and officers of any such cor-
porations or persons.

Have power to examine the books and affairs of any such corpora-
tion, person and to compel the production before it of books and papers
pertaining to the affairs being investigated by it.

Have power, whether as a Commission or through its members, to
.subpoena witnesses, take testimony and administer oaths to witnesses
in any proceeding or examination instituted before it, or conducted
by it in reference to any matter within its jurisdiction upon this
article.

The Commission shall appoint inspectors of gas and electric meters,

whose duty it shall be to inspect, examine, prove and ascertain the
accuracy of any and all gas meters used or intended to be used for
measuring or ascertaining the quantity of illuminating or fuel gas, or
.natural gas, furnished by any gas corporation to or for the use of any
person, and any and all electric meters used or intended to be used for
measuring and ascertaining the quantity of electrical current fur-
nished for light, heat and power by any electrical corporation to or for
the use of any person or persons, and when found to be or made to be

correct, the inspector shall stamp or mark all such meters and each of
them with some suitable device, which device shall be recorded in the

office of the Secretary of State.

No corporation or person shall furnish or put in use any gas meter
which shall not have been inspected, proved and sealed, or any electric
meter which shall not have been inspected, approved, stamped or
marked by an inspector of the Commission. Every gas and electric
corporation shall provide and keep in and upon its premises a suitable
and proper apparatus, to be approved and stamped or marked by the
Commission, for testing and proving the accuracy of gas and electric
meters furnished by it for use, and by which apparatus every meter
may and shall be tested, on the written request of the consumer to
whom the same shall be furnished, and in his presence if he desires it.

1914, ch. 445, sec. 33 1/2.

447A. The provisions of the next preceding section forbidding any
gas corporation or electrical corporation incorporated under the laws
of this or any other state, to begin construction or to exercise any
right or privilege under any franchise granted after the passage of this
act, or under any franchise granted before the passage of this act,
but not before the passage of this act actually exercised, without
first having obtained the permission and approval of the Commis-
sion, shall likewise apply to the abandonment or discontinuance in
whole or in part by any such gas corporation or electrical corporation
of any such right or privilege under any such franchise, in so far as it
is then actually being exercised for the public service.