§ 126 — Uniform system of accounts; access to accounts; forfeitures

§ 126. Uniform system of accounts; access to accounts; forfeitures.\nThe commissioner may, whenever he deems advisable, establish a system of\naccounts to be used by common carriers which are subject to his\nsupervision, or may classify the said carriers and prescribe a system of\naccounts for each class, and may prescribe the manner in which such\naccounts shall be kept. He may also in his discretion prescribe the\nforms of accounts, records and memoranda to be kept by such carriers,\nincluding the accounts, records and memoranda of the movement of traffic\nas well as the receipts and expenditures of moneys. Notice of\nalterations by the commissioner in the required method or form of\nkeeping a system of accounts shall be given to such persons or carriers\nby the commissioner at least six months before the same are to take\neffect. The system of accounts established by the commissioner and the\nforms of accounts, records and memoranda prescribed by him as provided\nabove shall conform in the case of railroad companies as nearly as may\nbe to those from time to time established and prescribed by the United\nStates department of transportation under the provisions of the act of\ncongress entitled "An act to regulate commerce" approved February\nfourth, eighteen hundred eighty-seven, and the acts amendatory thereof\nor supplementary thereto. The commissioner shall at all times have\naccess to all accounts, records and memoranda kept by common carriers\nand may designate any officers or employees of the department who shall\nthereupon have authority under the order of the commissioner to inspect\nand examine any and all accounts, records and memoranda kept by such\ncarriers. The commissioner may, after hearing, prescribe by order the\naccounts in which particular outlays and receipts shall be entered,\ncharged or credited. At any such hearing the burden of proof shall be on\nthe common carrier to establish the correctness of the accounts in which\nsuch outlays and receipts have been entered, and the commissioner may\nsuspend a charge or credit pending submission of proof by such carrier.\nWhere the commissioner has prescribed the forms of accounts, records and\nmemoranda to be kept by such carriers it shall be unlawful for them to\nkeep any other accounts, records or memoranda than those so prescribed,\nor those prescribed by or under authority of the United States.\n