Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 72 Part 1.djvu/1279

 72 S T A T. ]

PUBLIC LAW 85-857-SEPT. 2, 1958

under section 3301 of this title, must make written application therefor to the Veterans' Administration, stating specifically— (1) the particular record, paper, and so forth, a copy of which is desired and whether certified or uncertified; and (2) the purpose for which such copy is desired to be used, (b) The Administrator is authorized to fix a schedule of fees for copies and certification of such records. § 3303. Certification of records of District of Columbia When a copy of any public record of the District of Columbia is required by the Veterans' Administration to be used in determining the eligibility of a n j person for benefits under laws administered by the Veterans' Admmistration, the official custodian of such public record shall without charge provide the applicant for such benefits or any person (including any veterans' organization) acting on his behalf or the authorized representative of the Veterans' Administration with a certified copy of such record. § 3304. Transcript of trial records The Administrator may purchase transcripts of the record, including all evidence, of trial of litigated cases. Subchapter II—Investigations § 3311. Authority to issue subpenas For the purposes of the laws administered by the Veterans' Administration, the Administrator, and those employees to whom the Administrator may delegate such authority, to the extent of the authority so delegated, shall have the power to issue subpenas for and compel the attendance of witnesses within a radius of one hundred miles from the place of hearing, to require the production of books, papers, documents, and other evidence, to take affidavits, to administer oaths and affirmations, to aid claimants in the preparation and presentation of claims, and to make investigations and examine witnesses upon any matter within the jurisdiction of the Veterans' Administration. Any person required by such subpena to attend as a witness shall be allowed and paid the same fees and mileage as are paid witnesses in the district courts of the United States. § 3312. Validity of affidavits Any such oath, affirmation, affidavit, or examination, when certified under the hand of any such employee by whom it was administered or taken and authenticated by the seal of the Veterans' Administration, may be offered or used in any court of the United States and without further proof of the identity or authority of such employee shall have like force and effect as if administered or taken before a clerk of such court. § 3313. Disobedience to subpena In case of disobedience to any such subpena, the aid of any district court of the United States may be invoked in requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documentary evidence, and such court within the jurisdiction of which the inquiry is carried on may, in case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpena issued to any officer, agent, or employee of any corporation or to any other person, issue an order requiring such corporation or other person to appear or to give evidence touching the matter in question; and any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof.

1237

�