THEODORE R. McKELDIN, GOVERNOR                     759

haul them through to their destination or (by the route billed) to
the connecting point with the next connecting carrier. Railroad
companies, and street railroad companies, however, shall not be
required to interchange cars except upon such terms and conditions
as the commission may direct. Nothing in this section shall affect the
duties of railroad companies, or the powers of the commission, with
respect to joint rates.

37.    (Switch and Side-track Connections.)

Upon the application of any shipper, every railroad company shall
construct, maintain and operate on reasonable terms a switch con-
nection or connections with a lateral line of railroad or private side
track owned by such shipper, or provide upon its own property a
side track and switch connection for such shipper, whenever the
switch connection or the side track and switch connection are safe
to install, reasonably practicable and justified by the volume of busi-
ness therefor. Installation, maintenance, and compensation shall be
subject to regulation by the commission. Such connections may be
discontinued if the commission finds that the above conditions justi-
fying them have ceased.

Taxicab Companies

38.    (Permits.)

(a)  No taxicab shall be operated in any incorporated city or town
having a population of more than 50,000 persons, or between points
within such city or town and points outside thereof, without a writ-
ten permit from the commission.

(b)   The commission shall issue such a permit, upon written appli-
cation, if in its judgment, after investigation, the granting of the
permit would be best for the public welfare and convenience. In
determining this question, the commission shall take into account
the number of taxicabs to be used, the taxicab and other transpor-
tation services already available in the locality, the rate to be
charged, and such other factors as may be relevant. The commission
shall reject any application for a permit and revoke or suspend the
existing permits of any taxicab company when it appears that said
company is making an effort to mislead the public by imitating any
name, design or distinctive combination of colors of any taxicabs
already approved by the commission.

(c)  Each permit shall apply only to the particular taxicab therein
designated. It shall be subject to such terms and conditions, and
shall run for such period of time, (subject to renewal in the com-
mission's discretion in accordance with the standards set forth in
the preceding subsection) not exceeding one year, as the commis-
sion may deem advisable. Except where the commission stipulates
otherwise, it shall continue in force for the calendar year for which
it is issued. The commission may, for sufficient cause shown, amend,
suspend or revoke any permit.

(d)  No permit shall be assigned or transferred unless the assign-
ment or transfer is approved, after investigation by the commission,
as best for the public welfare and convenience. Application for such
approval must be in writing and must set forth the purpose, terms
and conditions of the proposed assignment or transfer.