WM. PRESTON LANE, JR., GOVERNOR. 103
CHAPTEE 44
(House Bill 8)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section
198 of the Montgomery County Code (1947 Edition, being
Article 16 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Maryland),
title "Montgomery County", sub-title "County Commission-
ers and Treasurer", relating to the duties of the Public
Utility Agent of Montgomery County as to taxicabs in said
County.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Mary-
land, That Section 198 of the Montgomery County Code (1947
Edition, being Article 16 of the Code of Public Local Laws
of Maryland), title "Montgomery County", sub-title "County
Commissioners and Treasurer", be and it is hereby repealed
and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows:

198. The Board of County Commissioners of Montgomery
County shall have the power and authority to employ a
Public Utility Agent to advise and to represent said Board of
County Commissioners and the residents of Montgomery
County on all matters pertaining to public utilities and pub-
lic transportation services affecting the said County and its
residents, before the Public Service Commission of Maryland,
the public utilities authorities of the District of Columbia, or
the Federal Government, and before the various public and
private utility agencies which now or may hereafter serve
said County and the residents thereof. In addition to the
duties hereinbefore prescribed said Public Utility Agent shall
advise and represent said Board of County Commissioners on
matters pertaining to rates of service, and in connection
therewith to investigate the service given by, the rates charged
by, and the valuation of the properties of, the various public
utilities and transportation services now or hereafter serving
said County and its residents. Such Public Utility Agent
shall be a lawyer with reasonable public utility and corporate
experience, as well as reasonable experience in governmental
administration, and he shall serve on a part-time basis and
hold office at the pleasure of and receive such salary as the
said Board of County Commissioners of Montgomery County
may provide.

It shall be requisite of said Public Utility Agent that he
shall maintain regularly advertised office hours in either the
Bethesda or Silver Spring County Buildings and shall make
a continuous effort to coordinate, advise and guide the resi-
dents of the many separate communities within Montgomery
County in their efforts to obtain improved public services,
and he shall cooperate and assist in the preparation of all
procedure and rules and regulations pertaining to the opera-