ALBERT C. RITCHIE, GOVERNOR. 87

panics, and all persons and associations of persons, whether
incorporated or not, operating automobiles, or motor cars, or
motor vehicles, for public use, in the conveyance of persons or
property within this State; and every municipal corporation
of this State engaged in the business of manufacturing and
supplying or of supplying gas or electricity for other than
municipal purposes shall be included within the terms "Gas
Corporation" and "Electrical Corporation, " as defined in the
next preceding section of this sub-title, and shall be subject, as
other gas and electrical corporations are, to the provisions of
this sub-title, except that the provisions of Sections 445 and
448 of Article 23 of the Annotated Code of Maryland shall
not apply to such municipalities as owned, operated and
maintained on and prior to the date of the creation of the
Public Service Commission, and presently own, operate and
maintain a gas or an electrical plant devoted in whole or in
part to the supplying of the inhabitants of such municipalities
with gas or electricity, for lighting or power purposes, nor
shall said Sections 445 and 448 apply to the Mayor and Coun-
cil of Hagerstown nor to such municipality or municipalities
having a population in excess of 20, 000, and an assessable
basis in excess of $15, 000, 000, when the majority of voters of
such municipality or municipalities shall vote in favor of mu-
nicipal ownership of lighting or power plant.

447. No gas corporation or electrical corporation incorpo-
rated under the laws of this or any other State shall begin con-
struction or exercise any right or privilege under any fran-
chise hereafter granted or under any franchise heretofore
granted but not heretofore actually exercised, without first
having obtained the permission and approval of the commis-
sion. Before such certificate shall be issued a certified copy
of the charter of such corporation shall be filed in the office of
the Commission, together with a verified statement of the
president and secretary of the corporation, showing that it has
received the required consent of the proper municipal authori-
ties. No municipality, except the Mayor and City Council of
Baltimore, shall build, maintain and operate for other than
municipal purposes, any works or systems for the manufacture
and supplying of gas or of electricity for lighting purposes,
without a certificate of authority granted by the Commission,
provided, however, that this section shall not apply to such
municipalities as owned, operated and maintained on and
prior to the date of the creation of the Public Service Commis-