232 LAWS GOVERNING MARINE INSPECTION 



accident, the persons responsible therefor, and whether or not the 

 United States Government employees charged with the inspection of 

 the vessel or the vessels involved and with the examination and licens- 

 ing of the officers thereof have properly performed their duties in con- 

 nection with such inspection, examination, and licensing. In all inves- 

 tigations conducted under the authority of this section, any owner, 

 licensed officer, or any holder of a certificate of service, or any other 

 person whose conduct is under investigation, or any other party in 

 interest, shall he allowed to be represented by counsel, to cross-ex- 

 amine witnesses, and to call witnesses in his own behalf, and a full and 

 completes record of the facts and circumstances shall be submitted to 

 the Commandant of the Coast Guard. 



Witnesses; subpoenas; oaths 



46 U.S.C. 239(e) (R.S. 4450) 



In any investigation directed by this section the Coast Guard shall 

 have power to summon before it witnesses and to require the 

 production of books, papers, documents, and any other evidence. 

 Attendance of witnesses or the production of books, papers, docu- 

 ments, or any other evidence shall be compelled by a similar process 

 as in the United States District Court. The Coast Guard shall 

 administer all necessary oaths to any witnesses summoned before 

 said investigation. 



Payment of witness fees and expenses 



46 U.S.C. 239(f) (R.S. 4450) 



The Coast Guard shall pay, on properly certified vouchers, such fees 

 to any witness summoned under subsection (e) of this section, for his 

 actual travel and attendance, as shall be officially certified to not 

 exceeding the rate allowed for fees and to witnesses for travel and 

 attendance in any District Court of the United States. 



Evidence of criminal liability; transmission to Attorney Gen- 

 eral; prosecutions 



46 U.S.C. 239(h) (R.S. 4450) 



If the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall find evidence of crimi- 

 nal liability on the part of any licensed officer or holder of a certificate 

 of service, he shall refer all of the evidence and the findings in such 

 investigation to the Attorney General for investigation by and prose- 

 cution through the Federal district attorney of the district having 

 jurisdiction, under tlie provisions of the Criminal C^ode. Xothing in 

 this section shall be construed as prohibiting the Federal district 

 attorney from conducting a criminal investigation or prosecution in 

 connection with a shipping casualty. 



Coercion or bribery of witness; penalty; prosecution 



46 U.S.C. 239(i) (R.S. 4450) 



Any attempt to coerce any witness, or to induce them to testify 

 falsely in connection with a shipping casualty, or to induce them to 

 leave the jurisdiction of the United States, shall be punishable by a fine 



