1864 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 759

persons or less, including driver, operated upon any public
street or highway in Howard County, or, on call or demand,
accepting or soliciting passengers indiscriminately for trans-
portation for hire between such points along the public streets
and highways in Howard County, as may be directed by the
passenger or passengers so being transported; provided that
nothing in this sub-title shall be construed to include as a
taxicab, a motor vehicle operated, with the approval and under
the jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission, on fixed
routes and schedules.

353. No person, association or corporation shall, on or after
July 1, 1947, operate a taxicab or taxicabs, in Howard County,
except as hereinafter provided, until such person, association
or corporation shall have obtained a permit from the County
Commissions of Howard County to operate such taxicab, or
each of such taxicabs. Such permit shall be issued only after
written application for the same shall have been made to the
County Commissioners of Howard County. And it shall be
the duty of the Commissioners, upon such application, to
investigate the expediency of granting such permit, the num-
ber of taxicabs to be used, and the rate to be charged, and, if,
in the judgment of the Commissioners, it is deemed best for
the public welfare and convenience that said permit should
be granted, said Commissioners are hereby empowered and
authorized to grant such permit, subject to such conditions
and terms, and for such duration of time, not exceeding the
period of one year, as they may deem advisable. But If the
said County Commissioners deem the granting of such permit
prejudicial to the welfare and convenience of the public, then
the said Commissioners are hereby empowered and authorized
to refuse the granting of the same. The said County Com-
missioners of Howard County are further empowered and
authorized to make such rules and regulations, including the
fixing of the rates to be charged, with the approval of the
Public Service Commission, as they may deem necessary to
govern the control and operation of taxicabs and to enforce
the same by such penalties or forfeitures as they may reason-
ably prescribe, including the suspension or revocation for
reasonable cause or causes, including violation of any rule or
regulation that may be adopted by the County Commissioners,
after investigation and hearing, of the permit granted under
the provisions of this sub-title; any person, association or
corporation of interest who shall be dissatisfied with the
action of the County Commissioners for refusing to grant a
permit or for any ruling, order or regulation hereunder shall
have the right of an appeal to the Circuit Court for Howard
County within thirty days from such refusal, ruling or order;