CORPORATIONS. 847

An. Code, sec. 453. 1910, ch. 180, sec. 39 (p. 384).

399. This sub-title shall apply to telegraph companies, telephone com-
panies, telephone lines and telegraph lines within this State, and to persons
and corporations engaged in the transmission of intelligence within this
State by telephone or telegraph.

The commission shall have within its discretion (1) general supervision'
of all persons having authority under any general or special law or under
any charter or franchise to lay down or erect or maintain poles, wires,
pipes, conduits or other fixtures in, over or under the streets, highways and
public places for the purpose of furnishing facilities for the transmission
of intelligence by electricity. (2) Shall investigate and ascertain from time
to time, the service supplied by such persons and corporations; shall exam-
ine all the methods employed by such persons and corporations supplying
facilities for the transmission of intelligence by electricity, and shall have
power to order such improvements as will best promote the public interest
and protect those using telephones and those employed in the business
thereof or in the maintenance and operation of the works, wires, poles,
lines and conduits maintained therein. (3) Shall have power, in its discre-
tion, to prescribe and require items, methods of keeping accounts, records
and books to be furnished by the persons and corporations engaged in the
furnishing of facilities for the transmission of intelligence by electricity.
(4) Shall examine all persons and corporations under its supervision as to
the methods employed by them in the transaction of their business, see that
their property is maintained and operated for the reasonably adequate
accommodation of the public and in compliance with the provisions of law
and of their franchise and charters. (5) Shall require every person or cor-
poration under its supervision to submit to it an actual report, verified by
the oath of the president, treasurer or general manager, showing in detail
(a) the amount of its authorized capital stock and the amount thereof
issued and outstanding; (b) the amount of its authorized bonded indebted-
ness and the amount of its bonds and other forms of evidence of indebted-
ness issued and outstanding; (c) its receipts and expenditures during the
preceding year; (d) the amount paid as dividends upon its stock and as
interest upon its bonds; (e) the name of and the amount paid as salary to
each officer, and the amount paid as wages to its employees; (f) the situa-
tion of its plant or plants and system, with a full description of its property
and franchises, stating in detail how each franchise stated to be owned was
acquired, and (g) such other facts pertaining to the operation and main-
tenance of the plant and system, and the affairs of such person or corpora-
tion, as may be required by the commission. Such reports shall be in the
form, cover the period and be submitted at the time prescribed by the
commission. The commission may, from time to time, make changes and
additions in such forms, giving to the persons and corporations three
months' notice before the time fixed by the commission as the expiration
of the fiscal year of any changes or addition which would require any
alteration in the method or form of keeping their accounts for ensuing year.
When any such report is defective, or believed to be erroneous, the com-
mission shall notify the person or corporation making such report to amend