262

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

now used by said company in furnishing the service mentioned
in this proviso, which description or a copy thereof duly certi-
fied by said clerk shall be taken as a true description of said
equipment in all proceedings, whether civil or criminal, which
may hereafter be taken to enforce the requirements of this
proviso or of the sections of article twenty-three therein
mentioned, and the said equipment shall always include and
secure for each subscriber a separate wire; and if any
individual, company or corporation, owning, controlling,
managing or operating a telephone line or lines within the
limits of the State, shall, at any time hereafter, neglect or
refuse to furnish the equipment and service mentioned in this
proviso to any person or corporation entitled thereto under
the terms of the sections of article twenty-three enumerated
in said proviso, the said individual, company or corporation so
refusing or neglecting, and the officers and agents of any such
company or corporation, and the agents of every such individ-
ual, shall be liable to indictment therefor, and upon conviction
thereof shall be fined for each offence not less than fifty
dollars, nor more than two hundred dollars, in the discretion of
the court; and provided also, that any person entitled to
telephone service under the provisions of said sections 232 A
to 232 F, both inclusive, but no other person, shall have the
right and privilege to use, without extra charge, any other
telephone equipment, with the consent of the subscriber to the
last mentioned equipment, and any individual, company or
corporation, or the officers and agents of any such company or
corporation, and the agents of every such individual refusing
or neglecting to allow such right or privilege, shall be liable to
indictment, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined for each
offence not less than fifty dollars nor more than two hundred
dollars, in the discretion of the court.

Committee of
investiga-
tion.

232 G. And be it further enacted, That there shall be
appointed by the Governor three persons, citizens of the State
of Maryland, who shall serve without pay, and shall be styled
"Telephone Commissioners," who shall have the powers and
discharge the duties hereinafter mentioned, that is to say : they
shall, by a full and thorough investigation, ascertain the
amount expended by the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone
Company, or the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Com-
pany of Baltimore City, in the acquisition of the rights of
way and other easements, now held by either of said com-
panies in the State of Maryland, and the amount expended in
the construction of plant, equipment and works now owned by