372 LAWS OF MARYLAND.

tion complained of, and praying for appropriate relief by way
of mandamus or injunction. It shall thereupon be the duty of
the Court to specify the time, not exceeding twenty days after
service of the petition, within which the common carrier, rail-
road corporation or street railroad corporation complained of
must answer the petition. In case of default in answer, or
after answer, the Court shall immediately inquire into the
facts and circumstances in such manner as the Court may
direct, without other or formal pleadings, and without respect
to any technical requirement. Such other persons or cor-
porations as the Court shall deem necessary or proper to
join as parties in order to make its order, judgment or writs
effective, may be joined as parties upon application of counsel
to the Commission. The final judgment in any such action or
proceeding shall either dismiss the action or proceedings or
direct that a writ of mandamus or an injunction issue, as
prayed for in the petition or in such modified or other forms
as the Court may determine will afford, the appropriate relief.
Any corporation, other than a common carrier, which shall
violate any provision of this Act, or shall fail to obey, ob-
serve and comply with every order made by the Commission
under authority of this Act, so long as the same shall be and
remain in force, shall forfeit to the State of Maryland a sum
not exceeding one thousand dollars for each and every offense;
every such violation shall be a separate and distinct offense,
and the penalty or forfeiture thereof shall be recovered in an
action as provided in this Section of this Act.

Every person who, either individually or acting as an officer
or agent of a corporation or person, other than a common
carrier, railroad corporation or street railroad corporation,
shall violate any provision of this Act, or fail to obey, observe
or comply with any order made by the Commission under this
Act, so long as the same shall be or remain in force, or who
shall procure or aid or abet any such corporation or person in
a violation of this Act, or in a failure to obey, observe or com-
ply with any such order, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

In construing and enforcing the provision of this Act relat-
ing to forfeitures and penalties, the act of any director, officer
or other person acting for or employed by any common carrier,
railroad corporation, street railroad corporation or other cor-
poration subject to this Act, acting within the scope of his
official duties or employment, shall be in every case and be
deemed to be the act of such common carrier or corporation or
person.

An action to recover a penalty or a forfeiture under this Act
may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in this