Case Name: COOK v. UNITED STATES et al.; UNITED STATES v. COOK
Court: United States District Court for the District of Oregon
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1946-11-18
Citations: 69 F. Supp. 445
Docket Number: Civil Action No. 3329
Parties: COOK v. UNITED STATES et al. UNITED STATES v. COOK.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Supplement
Volume: 69
Pages: 445–445

Head Matter:
COOK v. UNITED STATES et al. UNITED STATES v. COOK.
Civil Action No. 3329.
District Court, D. Oregon.
Nov. 18, 1946.
Maguire, Shields 'Sc Morrison, of Portland, Or. (Robert F. Maguire, James G. Smith, and Randall B. Kester, all of Portland Or., of counsel), for plaintiff.
Frank D. James, Jr., of Seattle, Wash., and Edward B. Twining, Asst. U. S. Atty., of Portland, Or., for defendants.

Opinion:
McCOLLOCH, District Judge.
While, as I stated at the argument, a judge need not in every case decline to enforce an administrative subpoena because too broad, nevertheless the urgency is so great to get the country back to peace time procedure, as well as "Peace Time Economy," the declared objective of the agency here involved, I do not feel justified in indulging in presumptions to bolster subpoenas, issued like this one, by a subordinate agency employee. The subpoena will be quashed because indefinite as to time.
I might add: I do not understand that a minor Government official can summon people at will to give testimony about their affairs and the affairs of their customers and neighbors. A United States Attorney cannot do that.