                        TITLE 19--CUSTOMS DUTIES
 
                      CHAPTER 4--TARIFF ACT OF 1930
 
                 SUBTITLE III--ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
 
                     Part V--Enforcement Provisions
 
Sec. 1617. Compromise of Government claims by Secretary of the 
        Treasury
        
    Upon a report by a customs officer, United States attorney, or any 
special attorney, 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 authorized to compromise 
such claim, if such action shall be recommended by the General Counsel 
for the Department of the Treasury.

(June 17, 1930, ch. 497, title IV, Sec. 617, 46 Stat. 757; May 10, 1934, 
ch. 277, Sec. 512(b), 48 Stat. 759; June 25, 1948, ch. 646, Sec. 1, 62 
Stat. 869; Pub. L. 91-271, title III, Sec. 301(gg), June 2, 1970, 84 
Stat. 291.)

                       References in Text

    The customs laws, referred to in text, are classified generally to 
this title.


                            Prior Provisions

    Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in act 
Sept. 21, 1922, ch. 356, title IV, Sec. 617, 42 Stat. 987. That section 
was superseded by section 617 of act June 17, 1930, comprising this 
section, and repealed by section 651(a)(1) of the 1930 act.


                               Amendments

    1970--Pub. L. 91-271 substituted reference to customs officer for 
reference to collector and struck out reference to customs agents.

                         Change of Name

    Act June 25, 1948, eff. Sept. 1, 1948, substituted ``United States 
attorney'' for ``district attorney''. See section 541 of Title 28, 
Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, and Historical and Revision Note 
thereunder.


                    Effective Date of 1970 Amendment

    For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 91-271, see section 203 
of Pub. L. 91-271, set out as a note under section 1500 of this title.

                          Transfer of Functions

    Functions of Secretary of the Treasury, General Counsel of 
Department of the Treasury, or Department of the Treasury under this 
section with respect to functions transferred to Secretary of Commerce 
in sections 1303 and 1671 et seq. of this title by section 5(a)(1)(C) of 
Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1979 were transferred to Secretary of Commerce 
pursuant to Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1979, Sec. 5(a)(1)(C), 44 F.R. 69275, 
93 Stat. 1381, eff. Jan. 2, 1980, as provided by section 1-107(a) of Ex. 
Ord. No. 12188, Jan. 2, 1980, 45 F.R. 993, set out as notes under 
section 2171 of this title.
    Act May 10, 1934, ch. 277, Sec. 512(b), 48 Stat. 759, abolished 
offices of General Counsel and Assistant General Counsel for Bureau of 
Internal Revenue, and office of Solicitor and Assistant Solicitor of the 
Treasury and transferred powers, duties, and functions thereof to 
General Counsel for Department of the Treasury.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 1600, 2254 of this title.
