Power of Council to proceed and act

The Council may, in its discretion, either as to the whole case or as to any particular facts, proceed and act upon evidence given by affidavit, provided that any party to the proceedings may require a deponent to any such affidavit to be summoned to appear before the Council, unless the Council is satisfied that the affidavit is purely formal and that the requirement of the appearance of the deponent is made frivolously.