People Ex Rel. Hastings v. Hofstadter

Cardozo, Ch. J.

On March 23, 1931, a joint resolution was adopted by the Senate and Assembly for the appointment of a committee to investigate the administration of the departments of the government of the city of New York, the report to be submitted not later than February 1, 1932. The resolution provided that the committee might act “ during the session of the Legislature and during the recess or after adjournment thereof, with the same power and authority it would have were the Legislature in session.”

On January 4, 1932, a subpoena under the hand of the vice-chairman of the committee was…