STATISTICS AND INFORMATION. 2765

as aforesaid, shall have power to administer oaths, to issue summons for
the attendance of witnesses, to enforce the attendance of witnesses, produc-
tion of papers and books, to the same extent that power is possessed by
courts of record or judges thereof in this State.

An. Code, sec. 10. 1904, sec. 10. 1904, ch. 671, sec. 8.

11. All information of a personal character or pertaining to the private
business of any person, firm or corporation, or which might have a tendency
to expose the profits or methods of doing business by any person, firm or
corporation, coming to the knowledge of the chief of said bureau or person
deputized by him, or to the arbitrators selected under the aforesaid pro-
visions, shall be deemed confidential and so treated, and all documents and
testimony taken shall be filed in the office of the bureau of industrial
statistics.

An. Code, sec. 11. 1916, ch. 406, sec. 11.

12. It shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Labor and Statistics
to do all in his power to promote the voluntary arbitration, mediation and
conciliation of controversies and disputes between employers and em-
ployees, and to avoid resort to lockouts, boycotts, blacklists, discriminations
and legal proceedings in or arising out of such controversies and disputes
and matters of employment. In pursuance of this duty, the said Commis-
sioner may, whenever he deems advisable, but subject to the approval of
the Governor, appoint boards of arbitration for the consideration and
settlement of such controversies and disputes, and may provide for the
necessary expenses of such arbitration boards, and for such reasonable
compensation to the members serving thereon as the said Commissioner
may deem proper, not exceeding, however, the sum of five dollars per day
for each member for each day during which such member is engaged in
work upon said arbitration boards. The said Commissioner shall prescribe
rules of procedure for such arbitration boards, and the said arbitration
boards shall have the power to conduct investigations and hold hearings, to
summon witnesses, and enforce their attendance through the ordinary pro-
cesses of law in the cities and counties in which such arbitration boards
may meet, subject to all the penalties for non-attendance to which witnesses
in ordinary civil cases are subject, and in like manner may require the
production of books, documents and papers and may administer oaths, all
to the same extent that such powers are possessed and exercised by the
civil courts of the State; and said arbitration boards shall make, report
and publish findings for the settlement of such controversies and disputes.
The said Commissioner of Labor and Statistics shall himself have like power
to conduct investigations and hold hearings, summon and enforce the
attendance of witnesses, administer oaths, require the production of books,
documents and papers, and make and publish reports and findings with
respect to any and all matters covered by this section. Subject to the
approval of the Governor, the Commissioner may appoint and designate a
Deputy, and fix his compensation, who shall be known as the Chief Media-
tor, and who, together with any assistants who may be assigned by the