Chapter 128.
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/statutes-at-large/vol-26/chapter-128-3118480·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
CHAP. 128.— An act to amend an act entitled “ An act to regulate commerce,” approved February fourth, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven.February 10, 1891. *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*,Interstate Commerce Commission. That section twelve of an act entitled “An act to regulate commerce,” approved February fourth, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, be, and it is hereby,Vol. 34, p. 383, amended. amended so as to read as follows:
" “Sec. 12. That the Commission hereby created shall have authorityScope, etc., of commission. to inquire into the management of the business of all common carriers subject to the provisions of this act, and shall keep itself informed as to the manner and method in which the same is conducted, and shall have the right to obtain from such common carriers full and complete information necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties and carry out the objects for which it was created: and the Commission is hereby authorized and required to execute and enforceEnforcement of the law. the provisions of this act; and, upon the request of the Commission, it shall be the duty of any district attorney of the United States to whom the Commission may apply to institute in the proper court and to prosecute under the direction of the Attorney-General of theProceedings.
United States all necessary proceedings for the enforcement of the provisions of this act and for the punishment of all violations thereof, and the costs and expenses of such prosecution shall be paid outCosts, etc., of prosecutions. of the appropriation for the expenses of the courts of the United States; and for the purposes of this act the Commission shall have power to require, by subpoena, the attendance and testimony of witnessesPower to send for persons and papers. and the production of all books, papers, tariffs, contracts, agreements, and documents relating to any matter under investigation.
“Such attendance of witnesses, and the production of such documentaryAttendance of witnesses, etc. evidence., may be required from any place in the United States, at any designated place of hearing. And in case of disobedienceDisobedience to commission’s subpoena. to a subpoena the Commission, or any party to a proceeding 744FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS. Sess. II. Ch. 128. 1891. before the Commission, may invoke the aid of any court of the United States in requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of books, papers, and documents under the provisions of this section.
“And any of the circuit courts of the United States within theCircuit courts to issue subpaena in certain cases. jurisdiction of which such inquiry is carried on may, in case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to any common carrier subject to the provisions of this act, or other person, issue an order requiring such common carrier or other person to appear before said Commission (and produce books and papers if so ordered) and give evidence touching the matter in question; and any failure to obey Punishment of common carrier, etc., for contumacy, etc.
Self-criminating testimony.such order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof. The claim that any such testimony or evidence may tend to criminate the person giving such evidence shall net excuse such witness from testifying; but such evidence or testimony shall not be used against such person on the trial of any criminal proceeding. “The testimony of any witness may be taken, at the instance of aTestimony by deposition. party, in any proceeding or investigation depending before the commission, by deposition, at any time after a cause or proceeding is at issue on petition and answer.
The Commission may also order testimony to be taken by deposition in any proceeding or investigation pending before it, at any stage of such proceeding or investigation. Such depositions may be taken before any judge of any court of the United States, or any commissioner of a circuit, or any clerk of a district or circuit court, or any chancellor, justice, or judge of a supreme or superior court, mayor or chief magistrate of a city, judge of a county court, or court of common pleas of any of the United States, or any notary public, not being of counsel or attorney to either of the parties, nor interested in the event of the proceeding or Notice in writing to be given.investigation.
Reasonable notice must first be given m writing by the party or his attorney proposing to take such deposition to the opposite party or his attorney of record, as either may be nearest, which notice shall state the name of the witness and the time and Compulsory depositions. etc.place of the taking of his deposition. Any person may be compelled to appear and depose, and to produce documentary evidence, in the same manner as witnesses may be compelled to appear and testify and produce documentary evidence before the Commission as hereinbefore provided.
“Every person deposing as herein provided shall be cautioned andOath, etc., of deponent. sworn (or affirm, if he so request) to testify the whole truth, and shall be carefully examined. His testimony shall be reduced to writing by the magistrate taking the deposition, or under his direction. and shall, after it has been reduced to writing, be subscribed by the deponent. “If a witness whose testimony may be desired to be taken byDepositions in foreign countries. deposition be in a foreign country, the deposition may be taken before an officer or person designated by the Commission, or agreed upon by the parties by stipulation in writing to be filed with the Filing of depositions.Commission.
All depositions must be promptly filed with the commission.” " Witnesses whose depositions are taken pursuant to this act, andFees for depositions. the magistrate or other officer taking the same, shall severally be entitled to the same fees as are paid for like services in the courts of the United States. Approved, February 10, 1891.