CORPORATIONS 975

Have power, whether as a Commission or through its members, to sub-
poena witnesses, take testimony and administer oaths to witnesses in any
proceeding or examination instituted before it, or conducted by it in ref-
erence 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, fur-
nished 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 ascertain-
ing the quantity of electrical current furnished 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 pro-
vide 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.

This section referred to in construing secs. 335, 401 and 409—see notes thereto. Kelly
v. Consol. Gas, etc., Power Co., 153 Md. 537.

Cited but not construed in Potomac Ed. Co. v. Pub. Serv. Commn., 165 Md. 472.

See notes to secs. 345, 403 and 43, and to art. 3, sec. 33, of Constitution.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 389. 1912, sec. 446. 1910, ch. 180, sec. 32 (p. 379).

400. If any consumer to whom a meter has been furnished shall request
the commission to inspect such meter, the commission shall have the same
inspected and tested; if the same, on being tested, shall be found to be four
per cent., if an electric meter, or two per cent., if a gas meter, defective or
incorrect, to the prejudice of the consumer, the inspector shall order the
gas or electrical corporation forthwith to remove the same and to place
instead thereof a correct meter, and the expense of such inspection and test
shall be borne by the corporation, if the same, on being so tested, shall be
found to be correct, the expense of such inspection and test shall be borne
by the consumer. A uniform reasonable charge shall be fixed by the com-
missioner for this service.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 390. 1912, sec. 447. 1910, ch. 180, sec. 33 (p. 379).
1924, ch. 48, sec. 447. 1927, ch. 338.

401. No gas corporation or electrical corporation incorporated under
the laws of this or any other State shall begin construction, or exercise any
right or privilege under any franchise granted after April 5, 1910, or under
any franchise theretofore granted but not theretofore actually exercised,
or make any extension of its lines, works or system, without first having
obtained the permission and approval of the Commission; provided, that
such permission and approval shall not be necessary for any extension
within any city or town in which the said corporation has lawfully com-
menced operations, or for an extension within territory already actually