§ 16. No rent for meters to be charged. No gas corporation, electric corporation or gas and electric corporation directly or indirectly shall charge or collect rent on its gas meters, and any person, or corporation violating this provision shall be liable to a penalty of fifty dollars for each offense, to be sued for and recovered in the corporate name of the city, town or village where the violation occurs, in any court having jurisdiction, and when collected to be paid into the treasury of such city, town or village and to constitute a part of the contingent or general fund thereof.