Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 52.djvu/871

 PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 556-JUNE 21, 1938 Rules of procednre. Administrative powers of Commis- sion. Rules and regula- tions. Orders. Classification of per- sons and matters. Availability of rules and regulations. Reference of mat- ters to joint boards. Cooperation with State commissions, re - garding rate struc- tures, costs, etc. Joint hearings. (b) All hearings, investigations, and proceedings under this Act shall be governed by rules of practice and procedure to be adopted by the Commission, and in the conduct thereof the technical rules of evidence need not be applied. No informality in any hearing, investigation, or proceeding or in the manner of taking testimony shall invalidate any order, decision, rule, or regulation issued under the authority of this Act. ADMINISTRATIVE POWERS OF COMMISSION; RULES, REGULATIONS, AND ORDERS SEC. 16. The Commission shall have power to perform any and all acts, and to prescribe, issue, make, amend, and rescind such orders, rules, and regulations as it may find necessary or appropriate to carry out the provisions of this Act. Among other things, such rules and regulations may define accounting, technical, and trade terms used in this Act; and may prescribe the form or forms of all statements, declarations, applications, and reports to be filed with the Commission, the information which they shall contain, and the time within which they shall be filed. Unless a different date is specified therein, rules and regulations of the Commission shall be effective thirty days after publication in the manner which the Com- mission shall prescribe. Orders of the Commission shall be effective on the date and in the manner which the Commission shall prescribe. For the purposes of its rules and regulations, the Commission may classify persons and matters within its jurisdiction and prescribe different requirements for different classes of persons or matters. All rules and regulations of the Commission shall be filed with its secretary and shall be kept open in convenient form for public inspection and examination during reasonable business hours. USE OF JOINT BOARDS; COOPERATION WITH STATE COMMISSIONS SEO. 17. (a) The Commission may refer any matter arising in the administration of this Act to a board to be composed of a member or members, as determined by the Commission, from the State or each of the States affected or to be affected by such matter. Any such board shall be vested with the same power and be subject to the same duties and liabilities as in the case of a member of the Commission when designated by the Commission to hold any hear- ings. The action of such board shall have such force and effect and its proceedings shall be conducted in such manner as the Commis- sion shall by regulations prescribe. The Board shall be appointed by the Commission from persons nominated by the State commis- sion of each State affected, or by the Governor of such State if there is no State commission. Each State affected shall be entitled to the same number of representatives on the board unless the nominating power of such State waives such right. The Commission shall have discretion to reject the nominee from any State, but shall thereupon invite a new nomination from that State. The members of a board shall receive such allowances for expenses as the Commission shall provide. The Commission may, when in its discretion sufficient rea- son exists therefor, revoke any reference to such a board. (b) The Commission may confer with any State commission regarding rate structures, costs, accounts, charges, practices classifi- cations, and regulations of natural-gas companies; and the Com- mission is authorized, under such rules and regulations as it shall prescribe, to hold joint hearings with any State commission in connec- tion with any matter with respect to which the Commission is [52 STAT.

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