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ACT OF 1930

SEC. 616. COMPROMISE OF GOVERNMENT CLAIMS PROHIBITED-EXCEPTION. It shall not be lawful for any officer of the United States to compromise or abate any claim of the United States arising under the customs laws for any fine, penalty, or forfeiture, and any such officer who compromises or abates any such claim or attempts to make such compromise or abatement, or in any manner relieves or attempts to relieve any person, vessel, vehicle, merchandise, or baggage from any such fine, penalty, or forfeiture shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by imprisonment for a term of not exceeding two years:

ACT OF 1913

[No corresponding provision.]

ACT OF 1922

SEC. 616. COMPROMISE OF CLAIMS.-It shall not be lawful for any officer of the United States to compromise or abate any claim of the United States arising under the customs laws for any fine, penalty, or forfeiture, and any such officer who compromises or abates any such claim or attempts to make such compromise or abatement, or in any manner relieves or attempts to relieve any person, vessel, vehicle, merchandise, or baggage from any such fine, penalty, or forfeiture shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by imprisonment for a term of not exceeding two years:

Provided, That the Secretary of the Treasury shall have power to remit or mitigate any such fine, penalty, or forfeiture, or to compromise the same in the manner provided by law.

[No corresponding provision in act of 1913.]

Provided, That the Secretary of the Treasury shall have power to remit or mitigate any such fine, penalty, or forfeiture, or to compromise the same in the manner provided by law.

ACT OF 1930

SEC. 617. COMPROMISE OF GOVERNMENT CLAIMS BY SECRETARY OF TREASURY. Upon a report by a collector, district attorney, or any special attorney or customs agent, having charge of any claim arising under the customs laws, showing the facts upon which such claim is based, the probabilities of a recovery and the terms upon which the same may be compromised, the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized to compromise such claim, if such action shall be recommended by the Solicitor of the Treasury.

ACT OF 1913

[No corresponding provision.]

ACT OF 1922

SEC. 617. SAME.-Upon a report by a collector, district attorney, or any special attorney or agent, having charge of any claim arising under the customs laws, showing the facts upon which such claim is based, the probabilities of a recovery and the terms upon which the same may be compromised, the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby authorized to compromise such claim, if such action shall be recommended by the Solicitor of the Treasury.

ACT OF 1930

SEC. 618. REMISSION OR MITIGATION OF PENALTIES.

Whenever any person interested in any vessel, vehicle, merchandise, or baggage seized under the provisions of this Act, or who has incurred, or is alleged to have incurred, any fine or penalty thereunder, files with the Secretary of the Treasury if under the customs laws, and with the Secretary of Commerce, if under the navigation laws, before the sale of such vessel, vehicle, merchandise, or baggage a petition for the remission or mitigation of such fine, penalty, or forfeiture, the Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretary of Commerce, if he finds that such fine, penalty, or forfeiture was incurred without willful negligence or without any intention on the part of the petitioner to defraud the revenue or to violate the law, or finds the existence of such mitigating circumstances as to justify the remission or mitigation of such fine, penalty, or forfeiture, may remit or mitigate the same upon such terms and conditions as he deems reasonable and just, or order discontinuance of any prosecution relating thereto. In order to enable him to ascertain the facts, the Secretary of the Treasury may issue a commission to any customs agent, collector, judge of the United States Customs Court, or United States commissioner, to take testimony upon such petition:

ACT OF 1913

[No corresponding provision.]

ACT OF 1922

SEC. 618. REMISSION OR MITIGATION OF PENALTIES. Whenever any person interested in any vessel, vehicle, merchandise, or baggage seized under the provisions of this Act, or who has incurred, or is alleged to have incurred, any fine or penalty thereunder, files with the Secretary of the Treasury if under the customs laws, and with the Secretary of Commerce if under the navigation laws, before the sale of such vessel, vehicle, merchandise, or baggage a petition for the remission or mitigation of such fine, penalty, or forfeiture, the Secretary of the Treasury, or the Secretary of Commerce, if he finds

ACT OF 1913

ACT OF 1922

that such fine, penalty, or forfeiture was incurred without willful negligence or without any intention on the part of the petitioner to defraud the revenue or to violate the law, or finds the existence of such mitigating circumstances as to justify the remission or mitigation of such fine, penalty, or forfeiture, may remit or mitigate the same upon such terms and conditions as he deems reasonable and just, or order discontinuance of any prosecution relating thereto. In order to enable him to ascertain the facts, the Secretary of the Treasury may issue a commission to any special agent, collector, member of the Board of United States General Appraisers, or United States commissioner, to take testimony upon such petition:

ACT OF 1930

Provided, That nothing in this section shall be construed to deprive any person of an award of compensation made before the filing of such petition.

[No corresponding provision in act of 1913.]

Provided, That nothing in this section shall be construed to deprive any person of an award of compensation made before the filing of such petition.

ACT OF 1930

SEC. 619. AWARD OF COMPENSATION TO INFORMERS.

Any person not an officer of the United States who detects and seizes any vessel, vehicle, merchandise, or baggage subject to seizure and forfeiture under the customs laws, and who reports the same to an officer of the customs, or who furnishes to a district attorney, to the Secretary of the Treasury, or to any customs officer original information concerning any fraud upon the customs revenue, or a violation of the customs laws perpetrated or contemplated, which detection and seizure or information leads to a recovery of any duties withheld, or of any fine, penalty, or forfeiture incurred, may be awarded and paid by the Secretary of the Treasury a compensation of 25 per centum of the net amount recovered, but not to exceed $50,000 in any case, which shall be paid out of any appropriations available for the collection of the revenue from customs. For the purposes of this section, an amount recovered under a bail bond shall be deemed a recovery of a fine incurred.

ACT OF 1913

[No corresponding provision.]

ACT OF 1922

SEC. 619. AWARD OF COMPENSATION.-Any per son not an officer of the United States who detects and seizes any vessel, vehicle, merchandise, or baggage subject to seizure and forfeiture under the customs laws and who reports the same to an offi cer of the customs, or who furnishes to a district attorney, to the Secretary of the Treasury, or to any customs officer original information concerning any fraud upon the customs revenue, or a violation of the customs laws perpetrated or contemplated, which detection and seizure or information leads to a recovery of any duties withheld, or of any fine, penalty or forfeiture incurred, may be awarded and paid by the Secretary of the Treasury a compensation of 25 per centum of the net amount recovered, but not to exceed $50,000 in any case, which shall be paid out of moneys appropriated for that pur pose. For the purposes of this section, an amount recovered under a bail bond shall be deemed a recovery of a fine incurred.

ACT OF 1930

SEC. 620. SAME-UNITED STATES OFFICERS.

Any officer of the United States who directly or indirectly receives, accepts, or contracts for any portion of the money which may accrue to any person making such detection and seizure, or furnishing such information, shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by imprisonment for not more than two years, or both, and shall be thereafter ineligible to any office of honor, trust, or emolument. Any such person who pays to any such officer, or to any person for the use of such officer, any portion of such money, or anything of value for or because of such money, shall have a right of action against such officer, or his legal representatives, or against such person, or his legal representatives, and shall be entitled to recover the money so paid or the thing of value so given.

ACT OF 1913

[No corresponding provision.]

ACT OF 1922

SEC. 620. SAME-UNITED STATES OFFICERS.Any officer of the United States who directly or indirectly receives, accepts, or contracts for any portion of the money which may accrue to any person making such detection and seizure, or furnishing such information, shall be guilty of a felony and,

ACT OF 1913

SEC. 621. LIMITATION OF ACTIONS.

ACT OF 1922

upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by imprisonment for not more than two years, or both, and shall be thereafter ineligible to any office of honor, trust, or emolument. Any such person who pays to any such officer, or to any person for the use of such officer, any portion of such money, or anything of value for or because of such money, shall have a right of action against such officer, or his legal representatives, or against such person, or his legal representatives, and shall be entitled to recover the money so paid or the thing of value so given,

ACT OF 1930

No suit or action to recover any pecuniary penalty or forfeiture of property accruing under the customs laws shall be instituted unless such suit or action is commenced within five years after the time when such penalty or forfeiture accrued:

ACT OF 1913

[No corresponding provision.]

ACT OF 1922

SEC. 621. LIMITATION OF ACTIONS.-No suit or action to recover any pecuniary penalty or forfeiture of property accruing under the customs laws shall be instituted unless such suit or action is commenced within five years after the time when such penalty or forfeiture accrued:

Provided, That the time of the absence from the United States of the person subject to such penalty or forfeiture, or of any concealment or absence of the property, shall not be reckoned within this period of limitation.

[No corresponding provision in act of 1913.]

Provided, That the time of the absence from the United States of the person subject to such penalty or forfeiture, or of any concealment or absence of the property, shall not be reckoned within this period of limitation.

ACT OF 1930

SEC. 622. FOREIGN LANDING CERTIFICATES.

The Secretary of the Treasury may by regulations require the production of landing certificates in respect of merchandise exported from the United States, or in respect of residue cargo, in cases in which he deems it necessary for the protection of the revenue.

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(a) BONDS.-In any case in which bond or other security is not specifically required by law, the Secretary of the Treasury may by regulations require, or authorize collectors of customs to require, such bonds or other security as he, or they, may deem necessary for the protection of the revenue and to assure compliance with the customs laws and regulations. Except as otherwise specifically provided by law, whenever a bond is required by law or regulations, the Secretary of the Treasury may by regulations prescribe the conditions and form of such bond, provide for the approval of the sureties thereon (without regard to any general provision of law), fix the amount or penalty thereof, whether for the payment of liquidated damages or of a penal sum, and authorize the cancellation of any such bond, in the event of a breach of any condition thereof, upon the payment of such lesser amount as he may deem sufficient. No condition in any such bond shall be held invalid on the ground that such condition is not specified in the law authorizing or requiring the taking of such bond. Whenever a bond is required by the customs laws or regulations, the Secretary of the Treasury may authorize the execution of a single bond the conditions of which shall extend to and cover similar cases or importations over a period of time, not to exceed one year, or such longer period as the Secretary of the Treasury may fix to meet the circumstances of any particular

case.

ACT OF 1913

[No corresponding provisions.]

ACT OF 1922

SEC. 486. BOND.-Upon entry of any merchandise, none of which or a part only of which is sent to the public stores for inspection, examination, or appraisal, the consignee shall give a bond, conditioned that he will produce all invoices, declara

ACT OF 1913

ACT OF 1922

tions, and other documents or papers required by law or regulations made in pursuance thereof upon the entry of imported merchandise; and that he will comply with all the requirements of the laws or regulations made in pursuance thereof relating to the importation and admission of such merchandise and will return to the collector, when demanded by such collector, not later than ten days after the appraiser's report, such of the merchandise as was not sent to the public stores, and also will return to the collector, on demand by him, any and all merchandise found not to comply with the law and regulations governing its admission into the commerce of the United States. Such bond shall be given in a form and in a penalty to be prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury, the penalty thereof to be paid as liquidated damages: Provided, That instead of a bond upon each entry the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe a bond to be taken from any consignee to cover all importations entered by him within a period of one year from the date thereof.

ACT OF 1930

(b) DEPOSITS IN LIEU OF BONDS.-The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to permit the deposit of money or obligations of the United States, in such amount and upon such conditions as he may by regulations prescribe, in lieu of any bond required by the provisions of the customs laws, or by regulations promulgated thereunder.

[No corresponding provision in act of 1913.]

[Nc corresponding provision in act of 1922.]

ACT OF 1930

SEC. 624. GENERAL REGULATIONS.

In addition to the specific powers conferred by this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to make such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.

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(a) REGULATIONS FOR LICENSING.-The Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe rules and regula tions governing the licensing as customhouse brokers of citizens of the United States of good moral char acter, and of corporations, associations, and partnerships, and may require as a condition to the granting of any license, the showing of such facts as he may deem advisable as to the qualifications of the applicant to render valuable service to importers and exporters. No such license shall be granted to any corpora tion, association, or partnership unless licenses as customhouse brokers have been issued to at least two of the officers of such corporation or association, or two of the members of such partnership, and such licenses are in force. Any license granted to any such corporation, association, or partnership shall be deemed revoked if for any continuous period of more than sixty days after the issuance of such license there are not at least two officers of such corporation or association or two members of such partnership who are qualified to transact business as customhouse brokers. Except as provided in subdivision (e) of this section, no person shall transact business as a customhouse broker without a license granted in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision, but nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize the requiring of a license in the case of any person transacting at a customhouse business pertaining to his own importations.

(b) REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION.-The collector or chief officer of the customs may at any time, for good and sufficient reasons, serve notice in writing upon any customhouse broker so licensed to show cause why said license shall not be revoked or suspended, which notice shall be in the form of a statement specifically setting forth the ground of compalint. The collector or chief officer of customs shall within ten days thereafter notify the customhouse broker in writing of a hearing to be held before him within five days upon said charges. At such hearing the customhouse broker may be represented by counsel, and all proceedings including the proof of the charges and the answer thereto, shall be presented, with the right of cross-examination to both parties, and a stenographic record of the same shall be made and a copy thereof shall be delivered to the customhouse broker. At the conclusion of such hearing the collector or chief officer of customs shall forthwith transmit all papers and the stenographic report of the hearing, which shall constitute the record in the case, to the Secretary of the Treasury for his action. Thereupon the said Secretary of the Treasury shall have the right to revoke or suspend the license of any customhouse broker, in which case formal notice shall be given such customhouse broker within ten days.

(c) APPEAL FROM SECRETARY'S DECISION.-Any licensed custom house broker aggrieved by the decision of the Secretary of the Treasury may, within thirty days thereafter, and not afterwards, apply to the United States Customs Court for a review of such decision. Such application shall be made by filing in the office of the clerk of said court a petition praying relief in the premises. Thereupon the court shall immediately

ACT OF 1930

give notice in writing of such application to the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall forthwith transmit to said court the record and evidence taken in the case, together with a statement of his decision therein. The filing of such application shall operate as a stay of the revocation or suspension of the license. The matter may be brought on to be heard before the said court in the same manner as a motion, by either the Assistant Attorney General or the attorney for the customhouse broker, and the decision of said United States Customs Court shall be upon the merits as disclosed by the record and be final, and the proceedings remanded to the Secretary of the Treasury for further action to be taken in accordance with the terms of the decree.

(d) REGULATIONS BY SECRETARY.-The Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe regulations necessary or convenient for carrying this section into effect.

(e) LICENSES UNDER ACT OF JUNE 10, 1910.-The Act entitled "An Act to license customhouse brokers," approved June 10, 1910, is hereby repealed, except that any license issued under such Act shall continue in force and effect, subject to suspension and revocation in the same manner and upon the same conditions as licenses issued pursuant to subdivision (a) of this section.

ACT OF 1922

[No corresponding provisions.] 20

ACT OF 1913

[No corresponding provisions.] 20

ACT OF 1930

SEC. 642. INVESTIGATION OF METHODS OF VALUATION.

The President is requested (1) to cause a survey to be made, by such agency or agencies as he may desig nate or appoint, of bases for the valuation of imported merchandise for the assessment of customs duties, particularly with a view to determining the extent to which values in the United States may properly be used as a basis for the assessment of customs duties; and (2) to submit to the Congress, at the earliest practicable date, a report thereon, with such recommendations for legislation as he may deem advisable, including such formulæ as he may propose for adjusting the rates of duty imposed by this Act to conform to any change in basis he may recommend. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, to be expended in the discretion of the President.

SEC. 643. APPLICATION OF CUSTOMS REORGANIZATION ACT.

The rights, privileges, powers, and duties vested in or imposed upon the Secretary of the Treasury by this Act shall be subject to the provisions of subdivision (a) of section 3 of the Act entitled "An Act to create a Bureau of Customs and a Bureau of Prohibition in the Department of the Treasury," approved March 3, 1927.

SEC. 644. APPLICATION OF AIR COMMERCE ACT OF 1926.

The authority vested by section 7 of the Air Commerce Act of 1926 in the Secretary of the Treasury, and in the Secretary of Commerce, by regulation to provide for the application to civil air navigation of the laws and regulations relating to the administration of customs, and of the laws and regulations relating to the entry and clearance of vessels, respectively, shall extend to the application in like manner of any of the provisions of this Act or of any regulations promulgated hereunder.

20 The acts of 1913 and 1922 left unchanged the act of June 10, 1910, relating to the licensing of customhouse brokers, which was as follows:

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the collector or chief officer of the customs at any port of entry or delivery shall, upon application, issue to any person of good moral character, being a citizen of the United States a license to transact business as a custom-house broker in the collection district in which such license is issued, and on and after sixty days from the approval of this Act no person shall transact business as a custom-house broker without a license granted in accordance with this provision; but this Act shall not be so construed as to prohibit any person from transacting business at a custom-house pertaining to his own importations.

SEC. 2. That the collector or chief officer of the customs may at any time, for good and sufficient reasons, serve notice in writing upon any custom-house broker so licensed to show cause why said license shall not be revoked, which notice shall be in the form of a statement specifically setting forth the grounds of complaint. The collector or chief officer of customs shall within ten days thereafter notify the custom-house broker in writing of a hearing to be held before him within five days upon said charges. At such hearing the custom-house broker may be represented by counsel, and all proceedings, including the proof of the charges and the answer thereto, shall be presented, with right of cross-examination to both parties, and a stenographic record of the same shall be made and a copy thereof shall be delivered to the custom-house broker. At the conclusion of such hearing the collector or chief officer of customs shall forthwith transmit all papers and the stenographic report of the hearing, which shall constitute the record in the case, to the Secretary of the Treasury for his action. Thereupon the said Secretary of the Treasury shall have the right to revoke the license of any custom-house broker, in which case formal notice shall be given such customhouse broker within ten days.

SEC. 3. That any licensed custom-house broker aggrieved by the decision of the Secretary of the Treasury may, within thirty days thereafter, and not afterwards, apply to the United States circuit court for the circuit in which the collection district is situated for a review of such decision. Such application shall be made by filing in the office of the clerk of said court a petition praying relief in the premises. Thereupon the court shall immediately give notice in writing of such application to the Secretary of the Treasury, who shall forthwith transmit to said court the record and evidence taken in the case, together with a statement of his decision therein. The filing of such application shall operate as a stay of the revocation of the license. The matter may be brought on to be heard before the said court in the same manner as a motion, by either the United States district attorney or the attorney for the custom-house broker, and the decision of said United States circuit court for the circuit in which the collection district is situated shall be upon the merits as disclosed by the record and be final, and the proceedings remanded to the Secretary of the Treasury for further action to be taken in accordance with the terms of the decree.

SEC. 4. That the Secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe regulations necessary or convenient for carrying this Act into effect.

SEC. 5. That the word person wherever used in this Act shall include persons, copartnerships, associa tions, joint stock associations and corporations.

Approved, June 10, 1910.

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