CORPORATIONS 957

An. Code, 1924, sec. 369. 1912, sec. 431. 1910, ch. 180, sec. 19 (p. 361).

377. No common carrier, subject to the provisions of this sub-title,
shall charge or receive any greater compensation in the aggregate for the
transportation of passengers or of a like kind of property, under sub-
stantially similar circumstances and conditions, for a shorter than for a
longer distance over the same line in the same direction, the shorter being
included within the longer distance; but this shall not be construed as
authorizing any such common carrier to charge and receive as great a com-
pensation for a shorter as for a longer distance or haul. Upon application
of a common carrier the commission may, by order, authorize it to charge
less for longer than for shorter distances for the transportation of 'passen-
gers or property in special cases after investigation by the commission, but
the order must specify and prescribe the extent to which the common carrier
making such application is relieved from the operation of this section, and
only to the extent so specified and prescribed shall any common carrier be
relieved from the operation and requirements of this section.

Every railroad corporation or other common carrier engaged in the
transportation of freight shall, upon reasonable notice, furnish to all per-
sons and corporations who may apply therefor and offer freight for trans-
portation, sufficient and suitable cars for the transportation of such freight
in carload lots. Every railroad corporation and street railroad corporation
shall have sufficient cars and motive power to meet all requirements for
the transportation of passengers and property which may reasonably be
anticipated, unless relieved therefrom by order of the commission. In case,
at any particular time, a common carrier has not sufficient cars to meet all
requirements for the transportation of property in carload lots, all cars
available to it for such purposes shall be distributed among the several
applicants therefor, without discrimination between shippers, localities or
competitive or non-competitive points, but preference may always be given,
in the supply of cars for shipment of live stock or perishable property.
The commission shall have power to make, and by order shall make, reason-
able regulations for the furnishing and distribution of freight cars to
shippers, for the switching of the same, for the loading and unloading
thereof, for demurrage charges in respect thereto, and for the weighing of
cars and freights offered for shipment or transported by any common
carrier.

This section referred to in holding that exemption of sale of coal in car load lots
by Baltimore City ordinance licensing and regulating sale of coal is not arbitrary
or discriminatory. Jacobs v. Baltimore, 172 Md. 360.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 370. 1912, sec. 432. 1910, ch. 180, sec. 20 (p. 362).

378. The commission and each commissioner shall have power and
authority to administer oaths in all parts of the State to witnesses sum-
moned to testify in any inquiry, investigation, hearing or proceeding; and
also to administer oaths in all parts of the State whenever the exercise of
such power is incidentally necessary or proper to enable the commission or
a commissioner to perform a duty or to exercise a power.

The commission shall have the general supervision of all common car-
riers, railroads, street railroads, railroad corporations and street railroad
corporations, and all other corporations and persons subject to the provisions
of this sub-title as hereinbefore defined, and shall have the power to and
shall examine the same and keep informed as to their general condition,
their capitalization, their franchises and the manner in which their lines,