(1) The commissioner shall have jurisdiction and be charged with the administration and enforcement of the provisions of the estate tax statutes under this chapter.

(2) The commissioner, for the purpose of ascertaining the correctness of any return, or for the purpose of making a return where none has been made, is hereby authorized, by any agent designated by the commissioner with the approval of the governor for that purpose, to examine any books, papers, records, or memoranda, bearing upon the matter required to be included in the return, and may require the attendance of persons rendering return or of any officer or employee of such persons, or of any person having knowledge in the premises at the office of the commissioner, Woolfolk State Office Building, Jackson, Mississippi, and may take his testimony with reference to the matters required by law to be included in such return, with power to administer oaths to such person or persons.

(3) If any person summoned to appear to testify, or produce books, papers, or other data, shall refuse to do so, the chancery court for the district in which such person resides shall have jurisdiction by appropriate process to compel such attendance, testimony, or production of books, papers, or other data.

(4) The commissioner, with the approval of the governor, may appoint and remove such officers, agents, deputies, clerks, and employees, as he may deem necessary, such persons to have such duties and powers as the commissioner may from time to time prescribe. The salaries of all officers, agents, and employees employed by the commissioner shall be such as he may prescribe, not to exceed such amounts as may be appropriated by the legislature, and the members of the commission and such officers, agents, and employees shall be allowed such reasonable and necessary traveling and other expenses as may be incurred in performance of their duties, not to exceed the amount appropriated therefor by the legislature.

(5) The commissioner may require such of the officers, agents, and employees as he may designate to give bond for the faithful performance of their duties in such form and with such sureties as he may determine, and all premiums on such bonds shall be paid by the commissioner out of the moneys appropriated for that purpose.

(6) All officers empowered by law to administer oaths and the members of the commission and such officers as it may designate shall have power to administer an oath to any person or to take the acknowledgment of any person in respect of any return or report required, or the rules and regulations of the commissioner.

(7) All agents of the commissioner shall have for identification purposes proper credentials signed by the chairman of the commission and countersigned by the governor.

(8) The commissioner, with the approval of the governor, shall prepare and publish annually, statistics reasonably available with respect to the operation of this law, including classification of taxpayers and of the value of estates, the amounts allowed as deductions, exemptions, and credits, and any other facts deemed pertinent and valuable.