His Findings. Approval of him shall not become and be effective until approved and confirmed by the Commission itself, and ordered by the Commission to be filed in its office; and upon such confirmation and order by the Commission, such decision shall be and be deemed to be the decision and order of the Commission. Salaries Paid PAYMENT OF SALARIES. Ibid. Sec. 417. SEC. 5. And be it further enacted, That the salaries of the Commissioners, the General Counsel of the Commission, the assistant to the General Counsel, the stenographer to the General Counsel and the Secretary to the Commission, shall be paid monthly by the State Treasurer upon a warrant of the Comptroller of the Treasury, out of the funds provided therefor. The Commissioners, General Counsel to the Commission and his assistant, the stenographer to the General Counsel, the Secretary to the Commission and its officers and clerks, inspectors, experts and other employees shall have reimbursed to them, by the State Treasurer, upon the warrant of the Traveling and Comptroller, all actual and necessary traveling and other expenses and disbursements incurred or made by them in Salaries Fixed the discharge of their official duties. The salaries or compensation of all other officers, clerks, inspectors, members and employees of the Commission, and all persons appointed by the General Counsel to the Commission, shall be fixed by the Commission, subject to the written approval in every case of the Governor. Other Expenses. by Commission. Annual Appropriation. The sum of seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000) annually or so much thereof as may be necessary annu ally for the maintenance of said Commission and the payment of the salaries of the Commissioners, the General Counsel, Assistant Counsel, Secretary, stenographer, clerks, inspectors and all other employees whatsoever of the Commission, and for investigations and hearings and all its necessary and incidental expenses, is hereby appropriated, and shall be payable on the order or orders of How Payable. said Commission, drawn upon the Comptroller at monthly intervals and at such other times as the Commission may deem necessary, and upon such order or orders of the Commission, the Comptroller shall draw his warrant upon the Treasurer of the State, at the end of each month, and at such other times as the Commission may deem necessary, as aforesaid, for such amounts as the said Commission may certify to be due and payable for all the said salaries, costs and expenses of the said Commission as aforesaid, not exceeding, however, the amount herein appropriated therefor. COUNSEL OF THE COMMISSION: DUTIES. Ibid. Sec. 418; Acts 1912, Ch. 563. sel: Duties. SEC. 6. And be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the General Counsel of the Commission, subject General Counalways to the order of the Commission, which may substitute and use any other agent or instrumentality, in its discretion, to represent and appear for the Commission in all actions and proceedings involving any question under this Act, or under or in reference to any Act, order or proceeding of the Commission, and if directed to do so by the Commission, to intervene, if possible, in any action or proceeding in which any such question is in Representation of Complainants. volved; to commence and prosecute all actions and proceedings directed or authorized by the Commission, and to expedite, in every way possible, final determination of all such actions and proceedings; to advise the Commission and each Commissioner, when so requested, in regard to all matters in connection with the powers and duties of the Commission and of the members thereof, and generally to perform all duties and services as attorney and counsel to the Commission which the Commission may reasonably require of him. Whenever application, protest or other form of complaint is made to the Commission of or concerning any act or omission, any service, regulation, equipment, appliance or facilities, or the adequacy or quality thereof, any preferences or advantage or any prejudice, disadvantage or any discrimination, any rates, tolls, fares or charges, or any regulations or practices with respect thereto, or of or concerning any other matter or thing done, permitted, maintained or omitted to be done by any person, firm or corporation, subject to the jurisdiction of the Commission, with respect to any of the requirements imposed by the Public Service Commission Law, by any other law, by any charter, franchise or ordinance, by any order of this Commission or otherwise, it shall be the duty of said General Counsel in person or through an assistant, whenever the Commission shall so direct, upon a prima facie case, or otherwise, or when there shall appear to the Commission to be any reasonable ground for investigating, or further investigating, such application, complaint or protest, to participate in the preparation or reforming of the pleadings before the Commission, if need be, or investigating or further investigating the facts or evidence upon which the application, complaint or protest is based or may be based and to appear before the Commission in respect to investigations or in support of applications or complaints by or on behalf of or in the interest of the public or in defense of the public interests when involved and subject to the order of the Commission the services of the experts employed by said Commission as well as the records and other facilities of the Commission shall be availed of by said General Counsel or his assistant in the performance of these public duties; provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent any party or interest in any proceeding before said Commission from appearing in person or from being represented by counsel. This Act to Have Precedence. The assistant, or assistants appointed by the General Counsel, shall perform such other duties as the General Counsel may prescribe. All actions and proceedings Actions under under this Act, and all actions and proceedings commenced and prosecuted by order of the Commission, and all actions and proceedings to which the Commission may be a party and in which any question arises under this Act, or under or concerning any order or action of the Commission, shall be preferred over all other civil causes except election causes, in all the courts of the State of Maryland, and shall be heard and determined in preference to all other civil business pending therein, excepting election causes, irrespective of position on the dockets of said courts. The same preference shall be granted upon application of the General Counsel to the Commission, or his assistant, in any action or proceedings in which the General Counsel or his assistant may be allowed to inter vene. Acts Forbid missioners and Employees. ing Appoint ments to Corporation. CERTAIN ACTS PROHIBITED: GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL. SEC. 7. And be it further enacted, That every Comden to Commissioner, the General Counsel to the Commission, the Secretary of the Commission and every person employed or appointed to office under, in the service of or in connection with the said Commission, is hereby forbidden and prohibited to solicit, suggest, request, or recommend, directly or indirectly, to any common carrier, railroad. corporation, street railroad corporation, gas company, Recommend- electric light company, telephone company, telegraph company, water company and refrigerating company, or any other company or corporation subject to this Act, or to any of the provisions thereof, or to any officer, attorney, agent or employee thereof, the appointment of any person to any office, place, position or appointment. And every common carrier, railroad corporation, street railroad corAppointments poration, gas corporation, electrical corporation, telephone company, telegraph company, water company and all other companies or corporations subject to this Act or any of the provisions thereof, and every officer, attorney, agent and employee thereof is hereby forbidden and prohibited to offer to any Commissioner, General Counsel to the Commission, to the Secretary thereof, or to any person employed by the Commission or by the General Counsel of the Commission, any office, place, appointment or position, or to offer to give to any Commissioner, to the General Counsel to the Commission, to his Assistant, to the Secretary thereof or to any officer employed or appointed to office, or to any person employed in the service of the Commission or in connection with the work of said Commission, any free pass or transportation or Offered by tions. Free Transportation. |