MISCELLANEOUS BILLS. 381
APPROVAL OF TRANSFER OR FRANCHISE.

SEC. 35. And be it further enacted, That no gas corporation
or electrical corporation shall transfer or lease its franchise,
works or system, or any part of such franchise, works or sys-
tem to any other person or corporation or contract for the
operation of its works and system, without the written con-
sent of the Commission. The permission and approval of the
Commission to the exercise of a franchise under this Act, or
to the assignment, transfer or lease of a franchise under this
section shall not be construed to revive or validate any
lapsed or invalid franchise or to enlarge or add to the
powers and privileges contained in the grant of any fran-
chise or to waive any forfeiture. No such corporation shall
directly or indirectly acquire the stock or bonds of any other
corporation incorporated for or engaged in, the same or simi-
lar business, or proposing to operate or operating under a
franchise from the same or any other municipality, unless
authorized to do so by the Commission. Save where stock shall
be transferred or held for the purpose of collateral security
only with the consent of the Commission, no stock corporation
of any description, domestic or foreign, other than a gas or
electrical corporation, shall purchase or acquire, take or hold,
more than ten per centum of the total capital stock issued by
any gas corporation or electrical corporation organized or ex-
isting under and by virtue of the laws of this State. Nothing
herein contained shall be construed to prevent the holding of
stock heretofore lawfully acquired. Every contract, assign-
ment, transfer, agreement for transfer of any stock by or
through any person or corporation to any corporation in vio-
lation of any provision of this Act, shall be void and of no
effect, and no such transfer or assignment shall be made upon
the books of any such gas corporation or electrical corporation,
or shall be recognized as effective for any purpose.

COMPLAINTS AS TO QUALITY AND PRICE: INVESTIGATION: FORMS

OF COMPLAINTS.

SEC. 36. And be it further enacted, That upon the complaint
in writing of the mayor or chief executive official, or officials, of
a municipality or county in which a person or corporation is
authorized to manufacture, sell or supply gas or electricity for
heat, light or power, or upon the complaint in writing of not
less than one hundred customers or purchasers of such gas or
electricity either as to the illuminating power, purity, pressure
or price of gas or the initial efficiency of the electric incandes-
cent lamp supply, or the regulation of the voltage of the supply
system used for incandescent lighting, or price of electricity