WHITE
v.
UNITED STA.TES.
93
WHITE et &1. v. UNITED STATES. (Circuit Court, S. D. New York. June 3, 1895.) No. 875. 1. CUSTOMS DUTIES-CLASSIFICATION-JUTE BAGGING.
a
Jute bagging, which is commercially fit for bagging cotto:n, is dutiable under paragraph 366 of the act of 1890, and not under paragraph 374, as a manufacture of jute not specially provided for. The test of the suitableness of an article for a certain purpose is not whether it is commonly used therefor, but whether it possesses actual, practical commercial fitness for that purpose.
SAME-"SUITABLE" DEFINED.
This was an application by James F. White & Co., importers of certain merchandise, for a review of the decision of the board of general appraisers sustaining the decision of the collector of the port of New York as to the rate of duty on such merchandise. Stanley, Clarke & Smith, for importers. Henry C. Platt, Asst. U. S. Atty., for the United States. TOWNSEND, District Judge (orally). The article in question is jute bagging. The importer claimed it was a "material similar to cotton bagging, and suitable for covering cotton composed of jute," and therefore dutiable under paragraph 366 of the tariff act of lR90. The collector classified the article under paragraph 374 of said act, as a manufacture of jute not otherwise specially provided for. The board of general appraisers, after hearing evidence, found that said articles were not suitable for covering cotton, nor commonly used for that purpose. The bagging is composed of jute, and appears to be a material similar to cotton bagging. The single question is whether it is suitable for covering cotton. The witnesses generally agreed that the article in question had been sold and used for bagging for cotton, and that it was suitable for such ·purpose. The counsel for the government claims, however, that the finding of the board of general appraisers upon these points should not be disturbed. But it appears from said findings that said board, after defining the word "suitable," held as follows: "When an article is commonly used for a given purpose, it may be said to be 'suitable' for such purposes; when not so used, it cannot ordinarily be said to be so 'suitable.'''
I think this statement is not altogether accurate, in view of· the delinition of said term, and the decisions. "Suitable," according to the definitions in Webster and the Century Dictionary, means "fitting," "capable of suiting," or "appropriate." In Re Townsend,l 56 Fed. 222, the court of appeals holds that "preparations fit for use" means "preparations actually and not theoretically fit for use, and 1
5 O. O. A.. 488.
94
FEDERAL REPORTER,
vol. 69.
which can be practically used for such purpose." InPaper Co. v. Cooper, 46 Fed. 186, Judge Butler says that by fitness is meant "com· mercial fitness." The evidence of the actual, practical commercial fitness of this article for bagging cotton is uncontradicted. The decision of the board of general appraisers is reversed. RUSSELL v.KERN. (CircuIt Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. July 10, 1805.) . No. 231.
1.
ApPEAL-'ASSIGNMENTS OF ERROR.
2.
PATENTS-EQUITY JURISDICTION-DISCRETION OF COURT.
Patents which have expired can afford no basis for equItable relIef in respect to infringement; and, In respect toa patent whIch expIres just after filing of the }>ilI, and before the return day of the subpama, it is within the dIscretion <if the court to dismiss the bill for want of equity. 64 Fed. 58!. affirmed. Where ten patents to the same person, all relating to one machine, were sued on, and four of them had expired before the bill was filed, and a fifth expired before the return day of the subpcena, and the others were found by the court to be invalId because for the same invention as that covered by the first five, held, that the bill was properly dismissed for want of equity. 64 Fed. 581, affirmed.
3.
SAME.
4.
SAME-FLOUR-PURIFYING MACHINES.
The Smith patents, Nos. 187,923, 194,539, 208,936, 236,101, and 258,142, for a mIddlings-purifying and flour-dressing machine, are void, because granted to the same person for the same inventions covered by Nos. 133,898, 137,495,154,770,158,992, and 164,050. 64 Fed. 581, atfil"med.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. This was a suifin equity by John H. Russell against John F. Kern, surviving partner of the firm of J. B. A. Kern & Son, for infringement of certain patents for purifying middlings and dressing flour. The case was first heard on demurrer to the amended bill. 58 Fed. 382. Afterwards the bill was further amended, and defendant again demurred thereto, which demurrer was sustained, and the bill dismissed for want of equity. 64 Fed. 581. Complainant appeals. Story B. Ladd, Geo. E. Sutherland, Halbert E. Paine, and Belva A. Lockwood, for appellant. N. C. Gridley and L. M. Hopkins, for appellee. Before WOODS, JENKINS, and SHOWALTER, Circuit Judges. WOODS, Circuit Jndge. Error is assignable upon an order or ruling, but not upon the opinion of a court or the reasons given for a ruling. Caverly v. Deere, 13 C. C. A. 452, 66 Fed. 305. Of the assignment in this record only the first and fifth specifications were necessary or proper. They are to the effect that the circuit court erred in sustaining the demurrer to, and dismissing for want of equity, the second amended bill. It was filed March 19, 1894,-the