1304 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 534

duties as the commission may prescribe. He shall have power
and authority to administer oaths in all parts whatsoever of the
State, so far as the exercise of such power is properly incidental
to the performance of his duties or that of the commission. The
secretary shall designate from time to time one of the clerks ap-
pointed by the commission to perform the duties of secretary
during his absence, and during such time the clerk so designated
shall, at the office, possess the powers of the secretary of the com-
mission. The annual salary of the secretary shall be three thou-
sand dollars ($3, 000).

The commission shall have the power, subject to the approval,
in writing, by the Governor, in each and every instance, to em-
ploy such officers, clerks, stenographers, typewriters, inspectors,
experts and employees as it may deem necessary to carry out the
provisions of this sub-title or to perform the duties and exercise
the powers conferred by law upon the commission; no person,
however, shall be appointed or employed by the commission in
any position whatsoever, unless the commission shall certify to
the Governor that it deems such appointment or employment,
and the compensation or annual salary which it proposed shall be
paid in each instance, actually necessary for carrying out the
purposes and requirements of this sub-title, and unless the Gov-
ernor shall thereupon approve in writing such appointment or
employment, and such compensation or annual salary or salaries.
If in any case the commission cannot ascertain in advance the
value of any service to be rendered to it or the proper compen-
sation to be paid therefor, it shall certify such fact to the Gover-
nor, who may authorize the employment or acquisition of the
service in question, leaving the value or compensation thereof
to be ascertained by subsequent agreement or adjustment.

Each commissioner and each person appointed to office or em-
ployment by the Governor or by the commission, with the ap-
proval of the Governor, shall before entering upon the duties
of his office or employment, take and subscribe to the consti-
tutional oath of office. No person shall be eligible for appoint-
ment or shall hold the office of commissioner, or be appointed
by the commission, to or hold any office or position under the
commission, who holds any official relation to any common ear
rier, railroad corporation, street railroad corporation, eras cor-
poration, electrical corporation, telephone corporation, telegraph
corporation, water company, heat and refrigerating company,
transportation of property or freight company, or other public
service corporation subject to any of the provisions of this sub-