122 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 82

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act is hereby
declared to be an emergency law and necessary for the im-
mediate preservation of the public health and safety, and
having been passed upon by a yea and nay vote, supported by
three-fifths of all the members elected to each of the two
Houses of the General Assembly, the same shall take effect
from the date of its passage.

Approved March 22, 1937.

CHAPTER 82.

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact with amendments Section 255
of Article 56 of the Annotated Code of Public General Laws
of Maryland, title "Licenses", sub-title "Public Passenger
Motor Vehicles", so as to authorize the Public Service Com-
mission, in certain cases to extend the time for which per-
mits to operate motor vehicles over specified routes may be
granted.

SECTION 1. Be U enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That Section 255 of Article 56 of the Annotated Code of
Public General Laws, title "Licenses", sub-title "Public Pas-
senger Motor Vehicles", be and the same is hereby repealed
and re-enacted with amendments so as to read as follows:

255. It shall be the duty of the Public Service Commission
of Maryland, upon the application of any motor vehicle owner
for a permit to operate any motor vehicle for the public trans-
portation of passengers over any specified route, to investi-
gate the expediency of granting said permit; the number of
motor vehicles to be used, and the rate to be charged, and if,
in the judgment of the Public Service Commission, it is
deemed best for public welfare and convenience that said
permit should be granted, said Public Service Commission is
hereby empowered and authorized to grant such permit subject
to such reasonable conditions and terms, and for such duration
of time, not exceeding the period of twenty years, as it may
deem advisable, provided, however, that permits to operate
over the streets of the City of Baltimore shall not be granted
for periods in excess of one year, except as hereinafter pro-
vided; and provided further, that if the applicant is directly,
or is a subsidiary of a company, engaged in furnishing mass
transportation in any incorporated municipality in the State
of Maryland, by means of electric trolley cars, and operates or
desires to operate motor vehicles, other than taxicabs, in con-