hearings and production of documentary evidence

hearings and production of documentary evidence Sec. 204. (a) For the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this title, the Secretary, or on the authorization of the Secretary, any officer or employee of the Department of Transportation may hold such hearings, take such testimony, sit and act at such times and places, administer such oaths, and require, by subpena or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, papers, correspondence, memorandums, contracts, agreements, or other records as the Secretary, or such officer or employee, deems advisable. (b) In order to carry out the provisions of this title, the Secretary or his duly authorized agent shall at all reasonable times have access to, and for the purposes of examination the light to copy, any documentary evidence of any person having materials or information relevant to the study authorized by this title. (c) The Secretary may require, by general or special orders, any person to file, in such form as the Secretary may prescribe, reports or answers in writing to specific questions relating to any function of the Secretary under this title. Such reports and answers shall be made under oath or otherwise, and shall be filed with the Secretary within such reasonable period as the Secretary may prescribe. (d) Any United States district court, within the jurisdiction of which an inquiry is carried on may, in the case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpena or order of the Secretary or such officer or employee issued under subsection (a) or subsection (c) of this section, issue an order requiring compliance therewith; and any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof. 86 Stat. 958 (e) Witnesses summoned pursuant to this section shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of the United States. (f) Any information which is reported to or otherwise obtained by the Secretary or such officer or employee under this section and which contains or relates to a trade secret or other matter referred to in section 1905 of title 18 of the United States Code shall not be disclosed except to other officers or employees of the Federal Government for their use in carrying out this title. Nothing in the preceding sentence shall authorize the withholding of information by the Secretary (or any officer or employee under his control) from the duly authorized committees of the Congress.