§ 17-4. Suspension bond.

If the order violated for which such fine or judgment is imposed shall have been an order promulgating or fixing rates, to be charged by public service corporations, persons or firms, it shall be necessary in appealing from such fine or judgment for the defendant to give a suspending bond, executed and filed with and approved by the Commission, payable to the state, and sufficient in amount and security to insure the prompt refunding by the appealing corporation, person or firm, to the parties entitled thereto, of all charges which such company may collect or receive, pending the appeal, in excess of those fixed or authorized by the order of the Commission violated or disregarded by such corporation, person or firm.  Such bond shall be conditioned to require such corporation, person or firm to keep such accounts and to make to the Commission from time to time such report, verified by oath, as may in the judgment of the Commission suffice to show the amount being charged or received by the company pending the appeal, in excess of the charge prescribed by the Commission in the order violated, together with the names and addresses of persons to whom such overcharges will be refunded in case the charges made by the company pending the appeal be not sustained on the final judgment, and the commission may at any time require such corporation, person or firm to give additional security or to increase the suspending bond when the same may appear to the Commission to be necessary to insure the prompt refunding of the overcharges aforesaid.  Upon the final judgment, if the order violated is sustained in the Supreme Court, the Commission shall distribute such overcharges to the persons to whom the same are due, as provided in Section twenty-one, Article nine, of the Constitution: Provided, that if the order violated is one fixing or establishing rates and the corporation, person or firm shall obey such order and carry its provisions into effect pending such appeal, the last above-mentioned bond shall not be required.

R.L.1910, § 1195.