1044 LAWS OP MARYLAND [CH. 334

seven persons or less, including driver, operated upon any
public street or highway in the Seventh Election District
of Cecil County, or, on call or demand, accepting or solicit-
ing passengers indiscriminately for transportation for hire
between such points along the public streets and highways
in the Seventh Election District of Cecil County, as may be
directed by the passenger or passengers so being trans-
ported; provided that nothing in this sub-title shall be
construed to include as a taxicab, a motor vehicle operated,
with the approval and under the jurisdiction of the Pub-
lic Service Commission, on fixed routes and schedules.

453(a). No person, association or corporation shall, on
or after July 1, 1951, operate a taxicab or taxicabs, in the
Seventh Election District of Cecil County, except as here-
inafter provided, unless such person, association or cor-
poration shall be a resident of Cecil County, shall have first
obtained a license from the County Commissioners of
Cecil County to operate such taxicab, or taxicabs and shall
have paid therefor an annual license fee of Fifty Dollars
($50. 00) for the first such taxicab and Twenty-five Dollars
($25. 00) for each additional taxicab. Such license shall
be issued only after written application for the same shall
have been made to the County Commissioners of Cecil
County. And it shall be the duty of the Commissioners,
upon such application, to investigate the expediency of
granting such license, the number of taxicabs to be used,
and the rate to be charged, and, if in the judgment of the
Commissioners, it is deemed best for the public welfare
and convenience that said license should be granted, said
Commissioners are hereby empowered and authorized to
grant such license subject to such conditions and terms,
and for such duration of time, not exceeding the period of
one year, as they may deem advisable. But if the said
County Commissioners deem the granting of such license
prejudicial to the welfare and convenience of the public,
then the said Commissioners are hereby empowered and
authorized to refuse the granting of the same.

(b) The said County Commissioners of Cecil County are
further empowered and authorized to make such rules and
regulations, including the fixing of the rates to be charged,
with the approval of the Public Service Commission, as
they may deem necessary to govern the control and opera-
tion of taxicabs and to enforce the same by such penalties
or forfeitures as they may reasonable prescribe, includ-
ing the suspension or revocation for reasonable cause or
causes, after investigation and hearing, of any license
granted under the provisions of this sub-title; any person,