ceeding, the presiding officer may, at any time after the filing of the moving paper, order, under the facsimile signature of the Secretary, the taking of testimony by deposition. The application shall be in writing and shall be filed with the hearing clerk and shall set forth: (1) the name and address of the proposed deponent; (2) the name and address of the person (referred to hereinafter in this section as the "officer"), qualified under the rules in this part to take depositions, before whom the proposed examination is to be made; (3) the proposed time and place of the examination, which shall be at least 15 days after the date of the mailing of the application; and (4) the reasons why such deposition should be taken.

(c) Presiding officer's order for taking deposition. If, after the examination of the application, the presiding officer is of the opinion that the deposition should be taken, he shall order its taking. The order shall be filed with the hearing clerk and shall be served upon the parties and shall state: (1) the time and place of the examination (which shall not be less than 10 days after the filing of the order); (2) the name of the officer before whom the examination is to be made; (3) the name of the deponent. The officer and the time and place need not be the same as those suggested in the application.

(d) Qualifications of officer. The deposition shall be taken before the presiding officer, or before an officer authorized by the law of the United States or by the law of the place of the examination to administer oaths, or before an officer authorized by the Secretary to administer oaths.

(e) Procedure on examination. The deponent shall be examined under oath or affirmation and shall be subject to crossexamination. The testimony of the deponent shall be recorded by the officer or by some person under his direction and in his presence. In lieu of oral examination, parties may transmit written interrogatories to the officer prior to the examination and the officer shall propound such interrogatories to the deponent.

The applicant must arrange for the examination of the witness either by oral examination or by written interrogatories. If it is found by the presiding officer, upon the protest of a party to the proceeding, that such party has his residence and his place of business more than 100 miles from the place of the examination and that it would constitute an undue hardship upon such party to be represented at the examination, the applicant will be required to conduct the examination by means of interrogatories. When the examination is conducted by means of interrogatories, copies of the interrogatories shall be served upon the other parties to the proceeding at least five days prior to the date set for the examination, and the other parties shall be afforded an opportunity to file with the officer cross-interrogatories at any time prior to the time of the examination.

(f) Certification by officer. The officer shall certify on the deposition that the deponent was duly sworn by him and that the deposition is a true record of the deponent's testimony. He shall then securely seal the deposition, together with two copies thereof, in an envelope and mail the same by registered mail to the hearing clerk.

(g) Use of depositions. A deposition ordered and taken in accord with the provisions of this section may be used in a proceeding under the act if the presiding officer finds that the evidence is otherwise admissible and (1) that the witness is dead; or (2) that the witness is at a distance greater than 100 miles from the place of hearing, unless it appears that the absence of the witness was procured by the party offering the deposition; or (3) that the witness is unable to attend or testify because of age, sickness, infirmity or imprisonment; or (4) that the party offering the deposition has endeavored to procure the attendance of the witness by subpena but has been unable to do so; or (5) that such exceptional circumstances exist as to make it desirable, in the interests of justice, to allow the deposition to be used. If a deposition has been taken, and the party upon whose application it was taken refuses to offer it in evidence, the other party may offer the deposition, or any part thereof, in evidence.

(a) Issuance of subpenas. The attendance of witnesses and the production of documentary evidence from any place in the United States on behalf of any party to the proceeding may, by subpena, be required at any designated place of hearing. Subpenas may be issued by the Secretary or by the presiding officer, under the facsimile signature of the Secretary, upon a reasonable showing by the applicant of the grounds, necessity, and reasonable scope thereof.

(b) Application for subpena duces tecum. Subpenas for the production of documentary evidence, unless issued by the presiding officer upon his own motion, shall be issued only upon a verified written application. Such application shall specify, as exactly as possible, the documents desired and shall show their competency, relevancy, and materiality and the necessity for their production.

(c) Service of subpenas. Subpenas may be served (1) by a United States Marshal or his deputy, or (2) by any other person who is not less than 18 years of age, or (3) by registering and mailing a copy of the subpena addressed to the person to be served at his or its last known residence or principal place of business or residence. Proof of service may be made by the return of service on the subpena by the United States Marshall or his deputy; or, if served by an individual other than a United States Marshal or his deputy, by an affidavit of such person stating that he personally served a copy of the subpena upon the person named therein; or, if

service was by registered mail, by an affidavit made by the person mailing the subpena that it was mailed as provided in this paragraph and by the signed return post-office receipt: Provided, That, if the subpena is issued on behalf of the Department, the return receipt without an affidavit of mailing shall be sufficient proof of service. In making personal service, the person making service shall leave a copy of the subpena with the person subpenaed; the original, bearing or accompanied by the required proof of service, shall be returned to the official who issued the same. § 900.63

Fees and mileage.

Witnesses who are subpenaed and who appear in such proceeding, including witnesses whose depositions are taken, shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of the United States, and persons taking depositions shall be entitled to the same fees as are paid for like services in the courts of the United States, to be paid by the party at whose request the deposition is taken. Witness fees and mileage shall be paid by the party at whose instance the witnesses appear, and claims therefor, as to witnesses subpenaed on behalf of the Department, shall be proved before the person issuing the subpena, and, as to witnesses subpenaed on behalf of any other party, shall be presented to such party.

§ 900.64 The presiding officer's report.

(a) Filing the transcript of evidence. (1) As soon as practicable after the close of the hearing, the presiding officer shall transmit to the hearing clerk an original and three copies of the transcript of the testimony and the original and all copies of the exhibits not already on file in the office of the hearing clerk. The presiding officer shall attach to the original transcript of testimony his certficate stating that to the best of his knowledge and belief, the transcript is a true, correct, and complete transcript of the testimony given in the hearing except in such particulars as he shall specify, and that the exhibits transmitted are all the exhibits received in evidence at the hearing with such exceptions as he shall specify. A copy of such certification shall be attached to each copy of the transcript of testimony. In accordance with such certificate the presiding officer shall note on the original transcript and the hearing clerk shall cause to be noted on other copies of the transcript, each correction detailed in such certificate by adding or crossing out (but without obscuring the text as originally transcribed) at the appropriate places any words necessary to make the text conform to the correct meaning, as certified by the presiding officer.

(2) Immediately following the filing of the transcript, the hearing clerk shall advise each party to the proceeding as to the date of such filing.

(b) Proposed findings of fact, conclusions, and orders. Within 10 days (unless the pre

siding officer shall have announced at the hearing a shorter or longer period of time) after the transcript has been filed with the hearing clerk, as provided in paragraph (a) of this section, each party may file with the hearing clerk proposed findings of fact, conclusions, and order, based solely upon the evidence of record, and briefs in support thereof.

(c) Presiding officer's report. The presiding officer, within a reasonable time after the termination of the period allowed for the filing of proposed findings of fact, conclusions, and orders, and briefs in support thereof, shall prepare, upon the basis of the record, and shall file with the hearing clerk, his report, a copy of which (together with notification of the date fixed by the presiding officer for the filing of exceptions thereto) shall be served by the hearing clerk upon each of the parties.

(d) Exceptions. Within a period of time (to be fixed by the presiding officer but not to exceed 20 days) after the filing of the presiding officer's report, the parties may file exceptions to the report. Any party who desires to take exception to any matter set out in the report shall transmit his exceptions in writing to the hearing clerk, referring, where practicable, to the relevant pages of the transcript, and suggesting a corrected finding of fact, conclusion, or order. Within the same period of time, each party shall transmit to the hearing clerk a brief statement in writing concerning each of the objections taken to the action of the presiding officer, as set out in § 900.60, upon which the party wishes to rely, referring, where practicable, to the pertinent pages of the transcript. A party, if he files exceptions or a statement of objections, shall state in writing whether he desires to make an oral argument thereon before the Secretary; otherwise, it shall be considered that he does not desire to make such oral argument.

(e) Revision of presiding officer's report. If exceptions are filed to the presiding officer's report, as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, the presiding officer, after consideration of such exceptions, shall make and file with the hearing clerk a draft of the findings of fact, conclusions, and final order of the Secretary, which shall include such revision of his report as he deems to be appropriate in view of such exceptions. § 900.65 Transmittal of record.

The hearing clerk, immediately following the filing of the revision of the presiding officer's report, or upon notification by the presiding officer that no revision will be made, shall transmit to the Secretary the record of the proceeding. Such record shall include: the petition; motions and requests filed with the hearing clerk, and rulings thereon; the transcript of the testimony taken at the hearing, together with the exhibits filed therein; any documents or papers filed in connection with prehearing conferences; such proposed findings of fact, con

clusions, and orders, and briefs in support thereof, as may have been filed in connection with the hearing; the presiding officer's report; such exceptions, statements of objections, and briefs in support thereof, as may have been filed in the proceeding; and the presiding officer's draft of the findings of fact, conclusions, and final order of the Secretary.

§ 900.66 Argument before Secretary.

(a) Oral argument. Unless a party has included in his exceptions a request for oral argument or has filed a separate request for oral argument prior to the expiration of the last date for filing such exceptions, it shall be considered that he does not desire to make such oral argument. The granting of a request to make oral argument shall rest in the discretion of the Secretary.

(b) Briefs. The parties may, in the discretion of the Secretary, file written briefs either in addition to oral argument or in lieu thereof.

(c) Scope of argument. Except where the Secretary determines that argument on additional issues would be helpful, argument, whether oral or in a written brief, shall be limited to the issues raised by the exceptions and statement of objections, or to such issues as the Secretary may indicate. If the Secretary determines that additional issues should be argued, counsel for the parties shall be given reasonable notice of such determination, so as to permit the preparation of adequate argument on all the issues to be argued.

(a) Consideration of order. As soon as practicable after the receipt of the record from the hearing clerk, or in case argument was had, as soon as practicable thereafter, the Secretary, upon the basis of the record, shall begin his consideration of the final order to be issued in the proceeding. If an oral argument was held, the order shall be considered by and shall be issued over the signature of the official who heard such oral argument, unless the parties shall consent to a different arrangement. At no stage of the proceeding between its institution and the issuance of the order shall the Secretary discuss ex parte the merits of the proceeding with any person who is connected with the proceeding in an advocative or an investigative capacity, or with any representative of such person: Provided, however, That the Secretary may discuss the merits of the proceeding with such a person if all parties to the proceeding, or their representatives, have been given an opportunity to be present. If, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, a memorandum or other communication from any party, or from any person acting on behalf of any party, which relates to the merits of the proceeding, receives the personal attention of the Secretary (or, if an official other

than the Secretary is to issue the order, then of such other official) during the pendency of the proceeding, such memorandum or communication shall be regarded as argument made in the proceeding and shall be filed with the hearing clerk, who shall serve a copy thereof upon the opposite party to the proceeding, and opportunity shall be given the opposite party to file a reply thereto.

(b) Issuance of order. The order shall be issued and served upon the parties as the final order in the proceeding without further procedure: Provided, That, if the terms of the order differ substantially from those proposed in the report of the presiding officer, the Secretary shall, if he deems it advisable to do so, direct that a copy of the order be served upon the parties as a tentative order; and, in such event, opportunity shall be given the parties to file exceptions thereto and written arguments or briefs in support of such exceptions. In such case, if exceptions are filed within a period of time (to be fixed by the Secretary but not to exceed 20 days) following the service of the tentative order, the Secretary shall give consideration to and shall make such changes in the tentative order as he deems to be appropriate; otherwise, the tentative order shall become final, as of the day following the date of expiration of the period fixed for the filing of exceptions.

§ 900.68 Applications for reopening hearings; for rehearings or rearguments of proceedings; or for reconsideration of orders.

(a) Petition requisite—(1) Filing; service. An application for reopening the hearing to take further evidence, or for rehearing or reargument of the proceeding, or for reconsideration of the order shall be made by petition addressed to the Secretary and filed with the hearing clerk, who immediately shall notify and serve a copy thereof upon the other party to the proceeding. Every such petition shall state specifically the grounds relied upon.

(2) Petitions to reopen hearings. A petition to reopen the hearing for the purpose of taking additional evidence may be filed at any time prior to the issuance of the final order. Every such petition shall state briefly the nature and purpose of the evidence to be adduced, shall show that such evidence is not merely cumulative, and shall set forth a good reason why such evidence was not adduced at the hearing.

(3) Petitions to rehear or reargue proceedings, or to reconsider orders. A petition to rehear or reargue the proceeding or to reconsider the final order shall be filed within 15 days after the date of the service of such order. Every such petition shall state specifically the matters claimed to have been erroneously decided, and alleged errors must be briefly stated.

(b) Procedure for disposition of petitions. Within 10 days following the service of any petition provided for in this section, the other party to the proceeding shall file with the hearing clerk an answer thereto. As soon as practicable thereafter, the Secretary shall announce the decision granting or denying the petition. Unless the Secretary shall determine otherwise, the issuance or operation of the order shall not be stayed pending the decision of the Secretary upon the petition. In the event that any such petition is granted by the Secretary, the applicable rules of practice, as set out elsewhere in this subpart, shall be followed.

§ 900.69 Filing; service; extensions of time; effective date of filing; and computation of time.

(a) Filing; number of copies. Except as provided otherwise herein, all documents or papers required or authorized in this subpart to be filed with the hearing clerk shall be filed in quadruplicate: Provided, That, if there are more than two parties to the proceeding, a sufficient number of additional copies shall be filed so as to provide for service upon all the parties to the proceeding. Any document or paper, required or authorized in this subpart to be filed with the hearing clerk, shall, during the course of an oral hearing, be filed with the presiding officer.

(b) Service; proof of service. Copies of all such papers shall be served upon the parties by the hearing clerk, by the presiding officer, or by some other employee of the Department or by a United States Marshal or his deputy. Service shall be made either (1) by delivering a copy of the document or paper to the individual to be served or to a member of the partnership to be served or to the president, secretary, or other executive officer or any director of the corporation, organization, or association to be served, or to the attorney or agent of record of such individual, partnership, corporation, organization, or association; or (2) by leaving a copy of the document or paper at the principal office or place of business of such individual, partnership, corporation, organization, or association, or of his or its attorney or agent of record; or (3) by registering and mailing a copy of the document or paper, addressed to such individual, partnership, corporation, organization, or association, or to his or its attorney or agent of record, at his or its last known principal office, place of business, or residence. Proof of service hereunder shall be made by the affidavit of the person who actually made the service. The affidavit contemplated herein shall be filed with the hearing clerk, and the fact of filing thereof shall be noted on the docket of the proceeding.

(c) Extensions of time. The time for the filing of any documents or papers required or authorized in this subpart to be filed may be extended upon (1) a written stipulation between the parties, or (2) upon the request

of a party, by the presiding officer before the transmittal of the record to the Secretary, or by the Secretary at any other time if, in the judgment of the Secretary or the presiding officer, as the case may be, there is good reason for the extension.

(d) Effective date of filing. Any document or paper, except a petition filed pursuant to § 900.52, required or authorized under these rules to be filed shall be deemd to have been filed when it is postmarked, or when it is received by the hearing clerk. Any petition filed under § 900.52 shall be deemed to be filed when it is received by the hearing clerk.

(e) Computation of time. Sundays and Federal holidays shall be included in computing the time allowed for the filing of any document or paper: Provided, That, when such time expires on a Sunday or legal holiday, such time shall be extended to include the next following business day.

§ 900.70 Applications for interim relief.

(a) Filing the application. A person who has filed a petition pursuant to § 900.52 may by separate application filed with the hearing clerk apply to the Secretary for an order postponing the effective date of, or suspending the application of, the marketing order or any provision thereof, or any obligation imposed in connection therewith, pending final determination of the proceeding.

(b) Contents of the application. The application shall contain a statement of the facts upon which the relief is requested, including any facts showing irreparable injury. The application must be signed and sworn to by the petitioner and any facts alleged therein which are not within his personal knowledge shall be supported by affidavits of a person or persons having personal knowledge of such facts or by proper documentary evidence thereof.

(c) Answer to application. Immediately upon receipt of the application, the hearing clerk shall transmit a copy thereof, together with all supporting papers, to the Administrator, who shall, within 20 days, or such other time fixed by the Secretary, after the filing of the application file an answer thereto with the hearing clerk.

(d) Contents of answer. The answer shall contain a statement of the objections, if any, of the Administrator to the application for interim relief, and may be supported by affidavits and documentary evidence.

(e) Transmittal to Secretary. Upon receiving the answer of the Administrator or upon the expiration of the time for filing the answer, the hearing clerk shall transmit to the Secretary for his decision all papers filed in connection with the application.

(f) Hearing and oral argument. The Secretary may, in his discretion, permit oral argument or the taking of testimony in connection with such application. However, unless written request therefor is filed with the hearing clerk prior to the transmittal of the papers to the Secretary, the parties shall be

deemed to have waived oral argument and the taking of testimony.

(g) Decision by Secretary. The Secretary may grant or deny the application. Any action taken by the Secretary shall be in the form of an order filed with the hearing clerk and shall contain a brief statement of the reasons for the action taken. The hearing clerk shall cause copies of the order to be served upon the parties.

§ 900.71 Hearing before Secretary.

The Secretary may act in the place and stead of a presiding officer in any proceeding hereunder. When he so acts the hearing clerk shall transmit the record to the Secretary at the expiration of the period provided for the filing of proposed findings of fact, conclusions and orders, and the Secretary shall thereupon, after due consideration of the record, issue his final order in the proceeding: Provided, That he may issue a tentative order in which event the parties shall be afforded an opportunity to file exceptions before the issuance of the final order.

Subpart-Procedure Governing Meetings To Arbitrate and Mediate Disputes Relating to Sales of Milk or its Products

AUTHORITY: §§ 900.100 to 900.118 issued under sec. 3, 50 Stat. 248; 7 U.S.C. 671.

§ 900.100 Words in the singular form.

Words in this subpart in the singular form shall be deemed to import the plural, and vice versa, as the case may demand. § 900.101

Definitions.

As used in this subpart, the terms as defined in the act shall apply with equal force and effect. In addition, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) The term "act" means section 3 of the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937, as amended (50 Stat. 248, as amended; 7 U.S.C. 671);

(b) The term "Department" means the United States Department of Agriculture;

(c) The term "Secretary" means the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States, or any officer or employee of the Department to whom authority has heretofore been delegated, or to whom authority may hereafter be delegated, to act in his stead;

(d) The term "General Counsel" means the General Counsel of the Department;

(e) The term "Administrator" means the Administrator of the Consumer and Marketing Service, with power to redelegate, or any officer or employee of the Department to whom authority has been delegated or may hereafter be delegated to act in his stead.

(f) The term "Service" means the Consumer and Marketing Service.

(g) The term “Division” means the Dairy Division of the Service.

(h) The term "cooperative" means any association, incorporated or otherwise, which is in good faith owned or controlled by pro

ducers, or organizations thereof, of milk or its products, and which is bona fide engaged in the collective processing or preparing for market or handling or marketing, in the current of interstate or foreign commerce, of milk or its products;

(i) The term "arbitrator" means any officer or employee of the Service designated by the Administrator, pursuant to the act, to arbitrate a bona fide dispute with reference to the terms and conditions of the sale of milk or its products between a producer cooperative and purchasers, handlers, processors, or distributors of milk or its products; (1) The term "mediator" means any officer or employee of the Service designated by the Administrator, pursuant to the act, to mediate a bona fide dispute with reference to terms and conditions of the sale of milk or its products between a producer cooperative and purchasers, handlers, processors, or distributors of milk or its products;

(k) The term "hearing clerk" means the hearing clerk, United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

[25 F.R. 5907, June 28, 1960, as amended at 26 F.R. 7797, Aug. 22, 1961, 28 F.R. 579, Jan. 23, 1963]

§ 900.102 Filing of applications for mediation or arbitration.

All applications for mediation or arbitration, all submissions, and all corrrespondence regarding mediation or arbitration shall be addressed to the Secretary, attention of the Division.

§ 900.103

Application for mediation.

An application for mediation by cooperative shall be in writing and shall include the following information:

(a) Names in full of the parties to the dispute and their addresses;

(b) Description of the cooperative organization and business, including copies of the articles of incorporation or association, bylaws, and membership contract; information regarding the number of shares of outstanding stock and the approximate portion owned by active producers; a statement of the function performed in connection with the collective processing, preparing, handling, or marketing of milk or its products; and data relative to the distribution of membership by States, the distribution by States of plant facilities for collecting, processing, or disposing of milk or its products, and the business operations for the year last past, including the total quantity of milk and its products handled by the applicant and the proportion of that quantity that was sold in States other than the States of production; (c) Suggested time and place for meeting between parties and mediator.

§ 900.104 Inquiry by the Administrator.

Upon receipt of an application for mediation, the Administrator, through such officers or employees of the Service as he may