Chapter 851. Authorizing commissioners or members of international tribunals to administer oaths, to subpoena witnesses and records, and to punish for contempt
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CHAP. 851.— An Act Authorizing commissioners or members of international tribunals to administer oaths, to subpoena witnesses and records, and to punish for contempt. July 3, 1930.[[S. 2828](/us/bill/71/s/2828).][[Public, No. 524](/us/pl/71/524).] *Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled*, That wheneverInternational tribunals.Authority of, to administer oaths, in proceedings before. any claim in which the United States or any of its nationals is interested is pending before an international tribunal or commission, established pursuant to an agreement between the United States and any foreign government or governments, each member of such tribunal or commission, or the clerk or a secretary thereof, shall have authority to administer oaths in all proceedings before the tribunal 1006Punishment for perjury.or commission; and every person knowingly and willfully swearing or affirming falsely in any such proceedings, whether held within or outside the United States, its territories or possessions, shall be deemed guilty of perjury and shall, upon conviction, suffer the punishment provided by the laws of the United States for that offense, when committed in its courts of justice.
Sec. 2. Issue of subpœna to require witness attendance, etc. Any such international tribunal or commission shall have power to require by subpoena the attendance and the testimony of witnesses and the production of documentary evidence relating to Signing of.any matter pending before it. Any member of the tribunal or commission may sign subpoenas. Sec. 3. Failure, regarded as contempt. Any failure to attend as a witness or to testify as a witness or to produce documentary evidence in an appropriate case may be regarded as a contempt of the authority or the tribunal or Punishment for.commission and shall be punishable in any court of the United States in the same manner as is provided by the laws of the United States for that offense when committed in its courts of justice.
Sec. 4. Commissioners appointed by tribunal, to take evidence, etc., and report. To afford such international tribunal or commission needed facilities for the disposition of cases pending therein said tribunal or commission is authorized and empowered to appoint competent persons, to be named as commissioners, who shall attend the taking of or take evidence in cases that may be assigned to them severally by the tribunal or commission and make report of the Rules, regulations, etc., governing.findings in the case to the tribunal or commission.
Any such commissioner shall proceed under such rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the tribunal or commission and such orders as the tribunal or commission may make in the particular case, and may have and perform the general duties that pertain to special masters Hearings, etc.in suits in equity. He may fix the times for hearings, administer Appearance, etc., of parties, authorized.oaths, examine witnesses, and receive evidence. Either party to the proceeding before the tribunal or commission may appear before the commissioner by attorney, produce evidence, and examine witnesses.
Issue and service of subpoenas.Subpoenas for witnesses or for the production of testimony before the commissioner may issue out of the tribunal or commission by the clerk thereof and shall be served by a United States marshal in Force of.any judicial district in which they are directed. Subpoenas issued by such tribunal or commission requiring the attendance of witnesses in order to be examined before any person commissioned to take testimony therein shall have the same force as if issued from a district court and compliance therewith shall be compelled under such rules Removal of commissioner.and orders as the tribunal or commission shall establish.
Any person appointed as commissioner may be removed at the pleasure of the tribunal or commission by which he is appointed. Approved, July 3, 1930.