The commission or, with the consent of the commission, any party to any proceeding before the commission, may, in any investigation, cause depositions of witnesses residing within or without the state to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for depositions in civil actions in circuit courts, such depositions to be taken on a commission to be issued by the secretary of the commission, made returnable to the commission.
Ala. Code § 37-1-92 (1975)