§269-10  Commission may compel attendance of
witnesses, etc.  In all investigations made by the public utilities
commission, and in all proceedings before it, the commission and each
commissioner shall have the same powers respecting administering oaths, compelling
the attendance of witnesses and the production of documentary evidence,
examining witnesses, and punishing for contempt, as are possessed by circuit
courts.  In case of disobedience by any person to any order of the commission
or of any commissioner, or any subpoena issued by it or the commissioner, or of
the refusal of any witness to testify to any matter regarding which the witness
may be questioned lawfully, any circuit court, on application by the commission
or a commissioner, shall compel obedience as in case of disobedience of the
requirements of a subpoena issued from a circuit court or a refusal to testify
therein.  No person shall be excused from testifying or from producing any
book, waybill, document, paper, or account in any investigation or inquiry by a
hearing before the commission or any commissioner, when ordered to do so, upon
the ground that the testimony or evidence, book, waybill, document, paper, or
account required of the person may tend to incriminate the person or subject the
person to penalty or forfeiture; but no person shall be prosecuted for any
crime, punished for any crime, or subjected to any criminal penalty or criminal
forfeiture for or on account of any act, transaction, matter, or thing
concerning which the person shall under oath have testified or produced
documentary evidence.  Nothing herein shall be construed as in any manner
giving to any public utility or any person immunity of any kind.  The fees and
traveling expenses of witnesses shall be the same as allowed witnesses in the
circuit courts and shall be paid by the State out of any appropriation
available for the expenses of the commission.  All meetings and hearings of the
commission shall be public. [L 1913, c 89, §8; RL 1925, §2196; am L 1933, c
169, §1; RL 1935, §7948; RL 1945, §4709; RL 1955, §104-9; HRS §269-10; am L
1973, c 149, §1(a); gen ch 1985; am L 1991, c 57, §7]