942 ARTICLE 23

An. Code, 1924, sec. 353. 1912; sec. 418. 1910, ch. 180, sec. 6 (p. 349). 1912, ch. 563.
1924, ch. 534, sec. 418. 1927, ch. 201, sec. 6.

353. It shall be the duty of the general counsel of the commission sub-
ject always to the order of the commission, which may substitute and use
any other agent or instrumentality, in its discretion, to represent and
appear for the commission in all actions and proceedings involving any
question under this sub-title, or under or in reference to any act, order or
proceeding of the commission, and if directed to do so by the commission,
to intervene, if possible, in any. action or proceeding in which any such
question is involved; to commence and prosecute all actions and proceed-
ings directed or authorized by the commission, and to expedite in every
way possible, final determination of all such actions and proceedings; to
advise the commission and each commissioner, when so requested, in regard
to all matters in connection with the powers and duties of the commission
and of the members thereof, and generally to perform all duties and serv-
ices as attorney and counsel to the commission which the commission may
reasonably require of him.

Whenever application, protest or other form of complaint is made to the
commission of or concerning any act or omission, any service, regulation,
equipment, appliance or facilities, or the adequacy or quality thereof, any
preference or advantage or any prejudice, disadvantage or any discrimina-
tion, any rates, tolls, fares or charges, or any regulations or practices with
respect thereto, or of or concerning any other matter or thing done, per-
mitted, maintained or omitted to be done by any person, firm or corpora-
tion, subject to the jurisdiction of the commission, with respect ;to any of
the requirements imposed by the Public Service Commission Law, or by
any other law, by any charter, franchise or ordinance, by any order of the
commission or otherwise, it shall be the duty of the People's Counsel, upon
a prima facie .case, or otherwise, to participate in the preparation or re-
forming of the pleadings before the commission, if need be, or investigat-
ing or further investigating the facts of evidence upon which the applica-
tion, complaint or protest is based or may be based and to appear before
the commission in respect to investigations or in support of applications or
complaints by or on behalf of or in the interest of the public or in defense
of the public interests when involved; and the services of the experts em-
ployed by said commission as well as the records and other facilities of the
commission shall be availed of by the People's Counsel in the performance
of these public duties; provided that nothing herein contained shall be
construed to prevent any party or interest in any proceedings before said
commission from appearing in person or from being represented by counsel.

All actions and proceedings under this sub-title, and all actions and pro-
ceedings commenced and prosecuted by order of the commission, and all
actions and proceedings to which the commission may be a party and in
which any question arises under this sub-title, or under or concerning any
order or action of the commission, shall be preferred over all other civil
causes except election causes, in all the courts of the State of Maryland,
and shall be heard and determined in preference to all other civil business
pending therein, excepting election causes, irrespective of position on the
dockets of said courts. The same preference shall be granted upon applica-
tion of the general counsel to the commission, or the People's Counsel, in
any action or proceedings in which the general counsel or the People's
Counsel may be allowed to intervene.