Any company incorporated prior to June second, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven under an act entitled "An act for the construction, maintenance and operation of water works for the purpose of supplying cities, towns, townships, villages, boroughs and other municipalities in this state with water, and otherwise amending said act," approved April twenty-first, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-six, as such title was amended by an act approved June twenty-second, one thousand nine hundred and six, for the supplying of water to one or more municipalities, and which company was on said date engaged in supplying water for public and private use in any city, town, township, village, borough or other municipality in this state, or in more than one of such municipalities, and which company was also engaged in maintaining and operating a system of sewerage in any city, town, township, village, borough or other municipality in this state, or in more than one of such municipalities, may come under and be subject to the provisions of this chapter, and in addition to the corporate powers, rights, and privileges possessed by such company under the act under which it was incorporated, such company may continue its existence and operation to the extent of the maintenance and operation of a system of sewerage, as fully and to the same extent as if incorporated under this chapter; provided, that such company shall make and execute a certificate under the hand of the president and directors thereof stating that it desires to come under the provisions and liabilities of this chapter, which certificate shall be acknowledged or proved in manner prescribed for the acknowledgment or proof of conveyance of real property and shall be accompanied by the consent in writing of at least two-thirds in interest of all the stockholders of such company having voting powers, which consent shall be verified by the oath of its president or secretary. Such certificate upon approval by the board of public utility commissioners shall be filed in the office of the secretary of state. Upon the filing of such certificate as aforesaid, the company making the same shall be deemed to possess, in addition to the corporate powers under the act under which it was incorporated, all the rights and powers under this chapter and be duly authorized thereunder to maintain and operate a system of sewerage for public and private use in such municipality or municipalities and to exercise all the rights and powers conferred by this chapter, and may thereafter continue to maintain, operate and extend its works, mains, pipes and appurtenances for the operation of a system of sewerage in such municipality or municipalities and to possess all the rights, franchises, privileges and municipal consents for the maintenance and operation of such sewerage system as provided by this chapter; provided, that no such company shall be relieved of any duty or liability imposed upon it or existing at the time of the execution and filing of such certificate, and provided further that such rights, obligations and duties of such corporation under the act under which it may have been incorporated shall not in anywise be limited hereby, but the rights and privileges granted by this chapter shall be in addition thereto; and provided, nothing herein contained shall hereafter be construed to limit or interfere with the right of any municipality where such works and appurtenances are located to regulate the manner of using the streets and public places therein by any corporation for the purposes of its business; and provided, further, that such certificate shall be filed as aforesaid before the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight.
