IN RE WERTHEIMER.
281
ported unwashed." The board of appraisers found as a fact that the duty already assessed at 50 per cent. ad valorem on the white wool amounted to more than three times the amount to which it would have been subject if imported unwashed. We find nothing in the record to call for a review of this finding of fact, and, it being a fact, there was no warrant for the imposition of the double duty. In the argument ab inconvenienti advanced by the district attorney we do not find sufficient ground for restricting the proviso to those classes of wools (first and second class) upon which the statute assesses duty by the express term "unwashed." If thirdclass unwashed wool were imported, it would pay a duty easily ascertainable by multiplying the valuation by the ad valorem rate, W'hen the statute also provides that, if the duty on the same wool washed is three times what it would be were the wool unwashed, there shall be no doubling on account of its being sorted, the language is plain and comprehensive of all wools, and there is no reason why it should be construed to have a different meaning from that which is expressed upon its face simply because it may not be convenient to ascertain the value of unwashed wool of the same class and grade as washed wool. The board of appraisers did not find the task impossible, and presumably the collector would have found it no more difficult. Arthur v. Pastor, 109 U. S. 139, 3 Sup. Ct. Rep. 96. The decision of the circuit court is affirmed. In re WERTHEIMER et aL
(CircuIt Court ot Appeals, Second Circuit. April 18, 1893.) CuSTOMS DUTIES-CUMULATIVE DUTTES-MEN'S PRICK' SEAM GLOVES.
The tariff act ot October 1, 1890, par. 458, imposes a duty of 50 per cent. ad valorem on men's leather gloves, and then provides that, "in addition to the> above rates, there ;;hall be paid on all mC'n's glovps, $1.00 per dozen; on all lined gloves, $1.00 per dozen; on all pique or prick-seam gloves, $.50 per dozen," etc, Held, that these additional rates were alternative, anrl not cumulative, and that, it the same article was included In two or more classes, it need only pay the rate applicable to the highest ot those classes. 50 Fed. Rep, 67, affirmed.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. This was an appeal by Wertheimer & Co. from a decision of the collector of the port of New York, ascertaining the duty on mpn's leather gloves imported by them. The circuit court reversed the decision of the appraisers, (50 Fed, Hep. 61,) and the United Htates appealed from that decision. Affirmed. Henry C. Platt, Asst. U. S. Dist. Atty. W. Wickham Smith, for appellees. Before WALLACE and SHIPMAN, Circuit Jndges. SHIPMAN, Circuit Judge. Wertheimer & Co., on October 15, 1890, imported into the port of New York an invoice of men's leather pique or prick-seam gloves. The collector, deeming them to be also
282
FEDERAL REPOR'J'EH,vol.
55.
embroidered; assessed a duty thereon of 50 percent. ad valorem, '8,nd $2 per dozen pairs, under the provisions of paragraph 458 of schedule N of the tariff act of October 1, 1890. 'l'he importers protested upon the ground that,by' the proper construction of said paragraph, they were dutiable at 50 per cent. ad valorem and 50 cents per dozen pairs. rfhe board ,of general appraisers found that the gloves were not embroidered,and held that the statutory duty upon men's pique gloves, under the paragraph, was 50 per cent. ad valorem, and $1.50 per dozen pairs. From this decision the importers appealed to the circuit court, which reversed the decision board of general appraisers, and held that the propel' rate of duty was $1 per dozen pairs,in addition to 50 per cent. ad valorem. From this decision the United States has appealed. Paragraph 458 is as follows: "Gloves of all descriptions, composed wholly or in part of kid or othm' leather, and whether wholly or partly manufactured, shall pay duty at the rates fixed in connection with the following specified kinds thereof, fourteen inches in extreme length, when stretched to the full extent, being in eaeh casp hereby fixed as the standard, and one dozen pairs as the basis, namely: Ladies', and children's schmasehell of said length or under, one dollar and sevpnty-five cents per dozen; ladies' and children's lamb of said length or under, two dollars and twenty-five eents per dozen; ladies' and ehildren's kid of said length or. lmder, three dollars and twenty-five eents per dozen; ladies' and ehildren's suedes of said length or. under, fifty per eentum ad valorem; all other ladies' and children's leather gloves, anf! all ml'n's leather gloves, of saill length or under, fifty per centum ad valorem; all leather gloves over fourteen inches in length, fifty per centum ad valorem; lmrl in additi0ll to tll(> above rates there shall be paid on all men's' gloves oue dollar per dozen; on all lined gloves, one dollar per dozen; on all pique or prick-seam gloves, fifiy ('cnts per dozen; on all embroidered gloves, with more than three single strands or cords, fifty cents per dozen pairs,"
"l'he question in this ease :relates entirely to the proper construction of this paragraph, and is, are the additional duties imposed upon men's gloves, lined, prick-seamed, and embroidered gloves, so that gloves having all the peculiarities named are liable to pay an additional rate of $3 per dozen? 'fhe board of general appraisers decided this question in the affirmative. The circuit court was of opinion that the latter portion of the paragraph imposed alternative rates, and thllt, if the same article was included in two or more classes, it should pay, under section 5 of the act of June 10, 1890, the rate applicable to the highest class within which it was included. The theory of the government is that it was the legislative intent to impose an increased duty upon each class of glovesnpon which additional labor and expense had been plaeed. and that the parllgraph, after placing a rate upon the standard ilrtiele, plaeed cumulative rates upon each class as it increased in value. The paragraph does not declare such an intent. It must be inferred, for nothing in the language directs a cumulative series of duties. The language is in harmony with the theory that additional specific rates were imposed upon four sepilrate clasBE'sOf gloves, and that each class should pay a duty in addition to the rates which had been imposed in the first part of the paragraph, but not additional to the rates whieh were im-
IN BE CROWLEY.
283
posed by the latter part of the paragraph. The result whIch would happen if a certain style of gloves should be included in more than one class was not the subject of this paragraph. Although gloves might be included in two or more classes, the language of the paragraph does not imply that they were to pay two or more but the· question of the dutiable rate under such circumstances is solvable by reference, to section 5, which provides that, if two or more of duty are applicable to an imported article, it shall pay duty at the. highest of such rates. The construction which imposes cumulative duties is one which seems strained and unnatural, in the absence of a more clearly expressed intention on the part of the legislature to assess duties upon a cUmulative system. 1.'he judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.
In re CROWLEY et al. (Circuit Court ot Appeals, Second Circuit. Aprll 18, 1893.)
1.
CUSTOMS DUTIES-EFFECT OF PROTEST.
When an importer protests tlmt his invoices are dutiable under a certain paragrnph of the tarltr act, he is not thereby concluded, so as to prevent the board of appraisers from adjudging that a part of the invoices is dutiable under that parngrnph, and a part under the classification adopted by the collector. Davies v. Arthur, 96 U. S. 148, distingui:shed. The fact that articles in separate parts are Invoiced as entireties t'l not controlling, and will not prevel1t a separate CllUlsification, when such classification is otherwise proper. 50 Fed. Rep. 465, affirmed. ',"oolen dress patterns, embroidered silk, or silk and metal, are not dutiable as woolen "embrolderles," under paragraph 398 of the tariff act of 1890, but at 44 cents per pound and 50 per cent. ad valorem, under paragraph 395, as woolen dress goods. In re Scheier, 53 Fed. Rep. 1011, followed. 50 Fed. Rep. 465, affirmed.
... SAME-ARTICLES IN SEPARATE PARTS-INVOICE.
8.
SAME-CLASSIFICATION-EMBROIDERED DRESS PATTEUI\S.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. This was a proceeding by H. C. Crowley & Co. for a review of the -decision of the board of general appraisl'rs in relation to the classification of certain imported dress goods. The circuit court affirmed the action of the board, and the United States appeal. A.llirmed. James T. Van Rensselaer, Asst. U. S. Dist. Atty. W. Wickham Smith, for appellees. Before WALLACE and SlIII'MAN, Circuit Judges. SHIPMAN, Circuit Judge. In May, 1891, H. O. Crowley & 00. imported into the port of New York four invoices of woolen dress patterns, each pattern consisting of two pieces of woolen goods; one being plain, and the other embroidered wi th silk, or silk and metal. The whole pattern consisted of ten meters, the embroidered part not exceeding two meters. The patterns were im"oiced as entireties, and the pieces were not intended to be sold separately. The collector assessed duties on the importations at the rate