§ 22. Oaths, testimony, and the production of records.

The Board, and each member thereof, and director shall have the same power and authority to administer oaths, subpoena witnesses, and compel the production of books and papers pertinent to any investigation or hearing authorized by this Act as is possessed by the District Courts of the State of Louisiana. Any person who shall fail to appear in response to a subpoena or to answer any question, except those which may incriminate him, or produce any books or papers pertinent to any investigation or hearing or who shall knowingly give false testimony therein shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to the penal sections of this Act. In case of contumacy or refusal to obey a subpoena issued to any person, the District Court of the State of Louisiana within the jurisdiction in which the investigation is being carried on, or within the jurisdiction of which said person guilty of contumacy or refusal to obey is found, or resides, or transacts business, upon application to the Board, shall have the requisite jurisdiction to issue to such person an order requiring such person to appear before the Board, its member or agent, and to produce records, if so ordered, or be there to give testimony touching the matter under consideration or in question; and any person failing to obey such order of any said court may, at the discretion of the court, be punished by said court as in contempt thereof.