886 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 401

be and the same is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amend-
ments, so as to read as follows:

Section 4. And be it further enacted, That 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 transportation of
passengers over any specified route, to investigate the ex-
pediency 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 per-
mit 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 dura-
tion 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 only be granted
for periods of not less nor more than one year. But if said
Public Service Commission deems the granting of such per-
mit prejudicial to the welfare and convenience of the public,
then the said Public Service Commission is hereby empow-
ered and authorized to refuse the granting of the same. The
said Public Service Commission of Maryland is further em-
powered and authorized to make such rules and regulations as
it may deem necessary to govern the control and operation of
same, and enforce the same by such penalties or forfeitures as
it may prescribe, including the revocation of the permit granted
under the provisions of this Act.

SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That Section 4 of Chap-
ter 714 of the Acts of the General Assembly of the year 1916
be and the same is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amend-
ments, so as to read as follows:

Section 4. And be U further enacted, That it shall be the
dutys 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 transportation of
merchandise or freight over any specified route to inves-
tigate the expediency of granting said permit, the num-
ber 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 the public welfare and convenience that
said permit should be granted, said Public Service Commis-