The Commission in making any examination for the purpose of obtaining information pursuant to this chapter may issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses pursuant to such rules as it may prescribe and such witnesses shall receive from the State Treasury for such attendance one dollar per day and five cents per mile traveled by the nearest practical route in going to and returning from the place of meeting of the Commission, to be ordered paid by the Comptroller General upon presentation of subpoenas by the witnesses as to the number of days served and miles traveled sworn to before the clerk of the Commission. In case any person shall wilfully fail or refuse to obey any such subpoena, any circuit judge of the court of common pleas and general sessions of any county, upon application of the Commission, shall issue an attachment for such witness and compel him to attend before the Commission and give his testimony upon such matters as shall be lawfully required by the Commission. And such circuit judge may punish for contempt as in other cases of refusal to obey the process or order of the court.