Section 144. Power of public welfare officials and service officers to administer oaths; power of public welfare officials to subpoena persons liable for support and compel production of records

Public welfare
  officials and service officers shall have power to administer oaths  and
  take affidavits in all matters pertaining to their office and to elicit,
  by  examination  under  oath,  statement of facts from applicants for or
  recipients of assistance or care.  Public welfare officials  shall  have
  further  power  to  subpoena  persons  liable  by law for the support of
  applicants  for  or  recipients  of  assistance  or  care,  compel   the
  attendance  of  such persons and take their testimony under oath for the
  purpose of determining the ability of such persons to contribute towards
  the support of such applicants for or recipients of assistance or  care,
  and  in  connection therewith to compel the production of books, papers,
  records and documents.   Such persons shall  be  entitled  to  the  same
  mileage  fees  as  are  allowed to witnesses required to attend in civil
  actions in courts of record.