918                              Laws of Maryland                       [Ch. 613

cerning any carrier, and all expenses of any litigation, including ap-
peals, arising from any such investigation or other proceeding, shall
be borne by such carrier. Such expenses, with interest at not to
exceed 6 per centum (6%) per annum may be charged to operating
expenses and amortized over such period as the Commission shall
deem proper and be allowed for in the rates to be charged by such
carrier. When any such investigation or other proceeding has been
initiated it shall be the duty of the carrier to pay to the Commission,
from time to time, such reasonable sum or sums as, in the opinion
of the Commission, are necessary to cover the expenses which by this
section are required to be borne by such carrier. The money so paid
by the carrier shall be deposited in the name and to the credit of the
Commission, in any bank or other depository located in the Metro-
politan District designated by the Commission, and may be disbursed
by the Commission for the purpose of defraying expenses of the
investigation, proceeding, or litigation in question. Any unexpended
balance of the sum or sums so paid by such carrier remaining after
the payment of such expenses shall be returned to such carrier.

(b)  The amount expended by the Commission in any calendar year
in all investigations or other proceedings of or concerning any one
carrier shall not exceed—

(1)  one-half of one per centum of the gross operating revenues of
such carrier, derived from transportation subject to this sub-title,
for its last preceding fiscal year; or

(2)  in the case of a carrier which was not engaged in such trans-
portation during the whole of its last preceding fiscal year, one-half
of 1 per centum of the average gross operating revenues, derived
from transportation subject to this sub-title, of all other carriers
(exclusive of carriers to which this subparagraph (2) applies) for
their last preceding fiscal year.

(c)  For the purpose of subsections (a) and (b) of this section—
The provisions of this section shall apply to any person engaged in

transportation subject to the sub-title and any person who makes ap-
plication under Section 287 for a certificate of public convenience and
necessity.

Applicability of Other Laws

303. (a) Upon the date this sub-title becomes effective, the applica-
bility of all laws of the signatories, relating to or affecting trans-
portation subject to this sub-title and to persons engaged therein,
and all rules, regulations and orders promulgated or issued there-
under, shall except to the extent in this sub-title specified, be sus-
pended, except that—

(1)  The laws of the signatories relating to inspection of equip-
ment and facilities, wages and hours of employees, insurance or
similar security requirements, school fares, and free transportation
for policemen and firemen shall remain in force and effect.

(2)  Upon the date this sub-title becomes effective, Certificates of
Public Convenience and Necessity or Permits issued by the Interstate
Commerce Commission to any carrier subject to the jurisdiction of
this Commission shall be suspended only during the existence of this
compact, provided such suspension shall not affect the authority