(a) administer oaths and affirmations;

(b) sign and issue subpoenas in the name of the department at the request of any party requiring attendance and giving of testimony by witnesses and the production of books, papers, documents and other evidence and said subpoenas shall be regulated by the Civil Practive Law and Rules, provided that nothing contained herein shall affect the authority of an attorney for a party to issue subpoenas under the provisions of the Civil Practice Law and Rules;

(c) provide for the taking of testimony by deposition;

(d) regulate the course of the hearings, set the time and place for continued hearings, and fix the time for filing of briefs and other documents, if any; and

(e) direct the parties to appear and confer to consider the simplification of the issues by consent by the parties, provided that nothing herein shall be construed as requiring any such directives.