316 LAWS OF MARYLAND [CH. 160

(1951 Edition), title "Public Service Commission",
relating to the abandonment or discontinuance of transit
service to suburban communities.

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section 48 of Article 78 of the Annotated Code of
Maryland (1951 Edition), title "Public Service Commis-
sion", be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with
amendments, to read as follows:

48. No common carrier, railroad corporation or street
railroad corporation shall abandon or discontinue in whole
or in part, the exercise of any franchise or right, under any
provision of the railroad law, or any other law, in so far
as it is then actually being exercised for the public service,
without the permission and approval of the Commission
first obtained, after due hearing, and the determination by
the Commission that the present or future public con-
venience or necessity permit of such abandonment or dis-
continuance of the exercise of such franchise or right. The
Commission is hereby authorized to require the continu-
ance of any service rendered the public by any such com-
mon carrier, railroad corporation or street railroad cor-
poration under any such franchise, right, or permits after
its expiration date, if any, until the determination by the
Commission that present or future public convenience or
necessity permits such abandonment or discontinuance.
Provided, however, that such determination shall be made
by the Commission not later than ninety days from the
expiration date of such permit. And further provided that
whenever the Public Service Commission permits and ap-
proves any such abandonment or discontinuance of any
such franchise or right, in whole or in part, involving
service to and/or from suburban communities, the Public
Service Commission shall consider the applications of any
individual, firm or corporation to acquire the franchise or
right to render such service and shall grant such franchise
or right to the applicant best qualified to render such
service. If the abandoned franchise or right, as acquired
by the common carrier, railroad corporation or street rail-
road corporation abandoning or discontinuing it or as
acquired by its predecessor, extended from mid-city to
suburban termini, or was operated between such termini
during most of the time of its existence, or for an aggre-
gate of fifteen (15) years or more then the franchise
granted under the provisions of this Section shall likewise
extend between such mid-city and suburban termini.