ART. 23] TURNPIKE AND PLANK ROAD COMPANIES. 131

grounded service, and also that known as the metallic circuit
service; they shall also procure all such other information which
in their judgment shall be necessary and proper to determine
what ought to be fair and sufficient rates for furnishing such
telephone service in the city of Baltimore and other places in the
State of Maryland; for the purpose of discharging the duties
hereby imposed on them, the commissioners above named are
hereby authorized to make such examination of books, papers
and accounts of the companies above named, as shall be necessary
for that purpose, and also to summon before them and examine
under oath, to be by them administered, all the officers and agents
of said companies and such other persons whom they may deem
necessary to examine for the purposes above mentioned, which
said summons the sheriffs of Baltimore city and the several
counties of Maryland are hereby directed to serve. The said
commissioners are also hereby authorized to employ an expert
accountant to assist them in the discharge of their duties, the
salary to be paid the said accountant, and also the necessary
expenses of the said commissioners in the discharge of their
duties, shall be paid by the said Chesapeake and Potomac Tele-
phone Com pany of Baltimore City; the exercise of the privileges
granted by section 232 F of this article, shall be considered as an
assent by the companies above named to the examination author-
ized to be made by this section, of the books, papers and accounts
of said companies so far as necessary for the purposes above men-
tioned, and of their officers and agents; it is hereby made the
duty of said commissioners to report to the next General Assem-
bly of this State, the result of the investigation and examination
by this section directed to be made, together with any recom-
mendations they think proper to make upon the subject matter
thereof.

Turnpike, Plank Road and Passenger Railway Companies.

1892, ch. 188.

236 A. All turnpike or plank road companies in this State are
hereby authorized and empowered to charge and collect such rates
of toll for traction engines, steam engines and all vehicles attached
thereto, which shall be hauled or propelled upon the roads
and through the toll-gates of such companies, as shall be fixed by