Can a witness before a court take exception to the materiality of the questions?

1 Mr. Justice Reed ruled that a witness before a court, not a party, cannot take exception to the materiality of the questions, citing Nelson v. United States, 201 U.S. 92, 114, 26 S.Ct. 358, 50 L.Ed. 673. While we agree, we think the questions prima facie material to the inquiry the court was making. Some persons had made a large total investment in the appearance of these fugitives before the court when required; it would be proper to ascertain how concentrated was this investment and whether or not the larger investors at least had any knowledge of the flight of their principals or had taken any steps to endeavor to produce them.