Section 6. The Civil Service Commission in each city of the second class shall:--
First.--Prescribe, amend and enforce rules and regulations for carrying into effect the provisions of this act. All rules so prepared may, from time to time, be added to, amended or rescinded: Provided, That all rules shall be approved by the mayor before they go into effect, but when so approved shall not be annulled or changed except by the commission with the approval of the mayor: And provided further, however, That if the mayor takes no action on a rule or amendment, submitted to him, within a period of ten days from the date of its submission, then the rule or amendment shall become effective as though approved by the mayor.
Second.--Keep minutes of its own proceedings, and records of its examinations and other official action. All recommendations of applicants for office, received by the said commission or by any officer having authority to make appointments to office, shall be kept and preserved for a period of three years, and all such records--recommendations of former employes excepted--and all written causes of removal, filed with it, shall, subject to reasonable regulation, be open to public inspection.
Third.--Make investigations, either sitting as a body or through a single commissioner, concerning all matters touching the enforcement and effect of the provisions of this act, and the rules and regulations prescribed thereunder, concerning the action of any examiner or subordinate of the commission, or of any person in the public service in respect to the execution of this act; and, in the course of such investigations, each commissioner and the chief examiner shall have power to administer oaths and affirmations, and to take testimony.
Fourth.--Have power to subpoena and require the attendance of witnesses, and the production thereby of books and papers pertinent to the investigations and inquiries hereby authorized, and to examine them and such public records as it shall require, in relation to any matter which it has the authority to investigate. The fees of such witnesses for attendance and travel shall be the same as for witnesses before the courts of common pleas, and shall be paid from the appropriation for the incidental expenses of the commission. All officers in the public service, and their deputies, clerks, subordinates, and employes, shall attend and testify when required to do so by said commission. Any disobedience to, or neglect of, any subpoena issued by the said commissioners, or any one of them, to any person, shall be held a contempt of court, and shall be punished by any court of common pleas of this Commonwealth, within the county in which is the city of the second class from the Civil Service Commission of which the said subpoena had issued, as if such subpoena had been issued therefrom. Any judge of any of said courts shall, upon the application of any one of said commissioners, in such cases, cause the process of said court to issue to compel such person or persons, disobeying or neglecting any such subpoena, to appear and to give testimony before the said commissioners, or any one of them, and shall have power to punish any such contempt.
Fifth.--Have power to recommend the impeachment or removal of officials or employes who shall be deemed guilty by a majority of the commissioners, after a full hearing, of the charges that they have coerced or attempted to coerce their subordinates in the performance or non-performance of a political or other service having no relation to the duties of a municipal employe, or in the payment of a contribution for a political purpose. Such recommendation shall be made, in writing, to the body or person having the power to impeach or to remove the accused official or employe.
Sixth.--Make an annual report to the mayor, showing its own actions and rules and regulations, and all the exceptions thereto in force, and the practical effects thereof, and any suggestions it may approve for the more effectual accomplishment of the purposes of this act. At least five hundred copies of the annual report shall be printed for public distribution.