(a) The Commission shall, as such, through its individual members, examiners or duly authorized employees, have the powers established in subsection (c) of § 1054 of this title, including the power to subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, examine witnesses, take testimony, or compel the production of such books, papers and documents, as it may deem necessary and pertinent in any proceeding held by it, and to do all necessary acts in the exercise of its powers and duties. Whenever it shall find it necessary in the public interest, the Commission may refrain itself from giving publicity to the facts or reports obtained in the course of any investigation.
(b) The Commission may compel the public service companies and private carriers concerned to pay the expenses and fees incurred for professional and advisory services in the investigations, hearings or any other proceeding carried out with regard to such public service companies or private carriers.
(c) The Commission may compel any public service company or private carrier to pay, in addition to that established in subsection (b) of this section, any other expense in which the Commission may incur in the investigation of the books, accounts, practices and activities of the company or carrier concerned; any expense incurred in the investigations of the value of the profitable property and the property used by any public service company or private carrier in the rendering of their services.
(d) The Commission shall determine the manner in which and the time when payments shall be made upon previous approval of the accounts submitted by the persons rendering such services, and these payments shall be covered into a special investigation and evaluation fund of the Commission.
History —June 28, 1962, No. 109, p. 288, § 34; June 9, 1972, No. 95, p. 238; June 15, 1973, No. 2, p. 753.