To hear and decide appealed claims, the board of review shall appoint one or more impartial appeal tribunals consisting in each case of either a referee, who shall be selected in accordance with Section 71-5-121, or a body consisting of three (3) members, one (1) of whom shall be a referee, who shall serve as chairman, one (1) of whom shall be a representative of employers, and the other of whom shall serve as a representative of employees. Each of the latter two (2) members shall serve at the pleasure of the board of review and be paid a fee of not more than Twenty Dollars ($20.00) per day for active service on such tribunals, plus necessary expenses. Referees shall be paid such salary or per diem as may be determined by the commission, and such expenses as may be allowed by the commission. No person shall participate on behalf of the commission or the board of review in any case in which he is an interested party. The board of review may designate alternates to serve in the absence or disqualification of any member of an appeal tribunal. The chairman shall act alone in the absence or disqualification of any other member and his alternates. In no case shall the hearings proceed unless the chairman of the appeal tribunal is present.