Foreign and nonresident railroad companies, license required — penalty

If any foreign or nonresident railway corporation of whatever kind, incorporated, created and existing under the laws of any other state, territory or country, and doing business as a carrier of freight or passengers shall carry, or attempt to carry, or hold itself out to carry passengers or freight of any kind from one point in this state to another point in this state, without a license, permit or certificate of authority therefor, first had and obtained from the state of Missouri, to be issued by the secretary of state, it shall forfeit and pay to the state of Missouri for each offense a penalty of not less than two thousand dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars, suit to be brought therefor in any court of competent jurisdiction by the attorney general or the prosecuting attorney of any county in the state in which such offense shall have been committed. Such offense shall be deemed to have been committed either in the county where such transportation originated or in the county where it terminated. The governor may, whenever he shall deem it necessary, appoint special counsel to assist the attorney general or any prosecuting attorney to enforce and carry out the provisions of this section.