The governing authorities of every municipality shall have power to inspect or cause to be inspected the machinery, appliances and premises of all persons, copartnerships or corporations owning or operating any system within their corporate limits, in order to ascertain whether or not the said machinery, appliances and premises are kept in a sanitary condition and in condition to comply with the terms and requirements of the franchise or franchises under which the said system or systems are operated.
If any person, copartnership or corporation, or any employee thereof, shall refuse to permit the municipal governing authorities to make such inspection immediately when requested so to do, they shall, for each such refusal, forfeit the sum of one thousand dollars, to be recovered in an action in the name of said municipality.