MORRIS EUROPEAN &; AMERICAN EXP. cq.V. UNITED STATES.
643
of knives, partly manufactured, under the decisions-in Magone v. Wiederer, 159 V. S. 555, 16 Ct. 12+, In re Bhlmentllal, 51 Fed. 76, and U. S. v. Simon, 84 Fed. 1M. It further appears, however, thatthe articles in are the cheapest quality Of pearl, are sometimes sold by the pound and in all sizes and shapes, and are used on fans and opera glasses, for inlaying work, and for the handles of button hooks, corkscrews, and other articles. And inasmuch as in their present condition they are not necessarily a part of a knife' handle, and wouhl. not necessarily be recognized as such, and are not in such a condition as to be part of the knife without being further advanced by filing, drilling, and trimming, in order to adapt them to the shapes of the knife handles and to fasten them thereto, I think the United States has failed to show that the goods are anything. more than the material from which parts of pocketknives may be manufactured. This conclusion is strengthened by the decisions in Re. John Russell Outlery Co., 56 Fed. 221, Worthington v. Robbins, 139 U. S. 341, 11 Sup. Ot. 581, and U. S. v. Simon, 84 Fed. 154. The decision of the board of general appraisers is affirmed. MORRIS EUROPEAN & AMERICAN EXP. CO. v. UNITED STATES. (Circuit Court, S. D. New York. No. 2,788. 1. CUSTOMS DUTIES-ApPRAISEMENT-REVIEW.
May 18, 1899.)
Where a finding of the board of appraisers is wholly without evidence to support it, the court will disregard it. Statues carved out of wood by a professional, sculptor may be admitted free of duty, as "the professional production of a statuary or sculptor," although the design was produced by an artist in the United States.
2. SAME-STATUTES-PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTIONS.
Appeal by the importers from a decision of the board of general appraisers which sustained the action of the collector of customs in assessing duty upon the importations in question. Howard T. Walden, for the importers. Henry O. Platt, Asst. U. S. Atty. TOWNSEND, J. In 1897 the appellants herein imported two carved or sculptured figures in oak wood, about 3t feet in height, representing adoring. angels, of conventional design, produced in France from drawings executed by a professional architect and sculptor in the United States. 'l'hey were assessed for duty at 25 per cent. ad valorem, under paragraph 181 of the act of 1894, as "manufactures of wood not specially provided for." The importers protested, claiming that they were free, as "statuary, the professional production of a statuary or sculptor." The board of appraisers found as follows: "That these articles are not the professional production of a statuary or sculptor, who conceived the design and executed the originals or models thereof, but are mechanical productions executed by artisans, and by mechanical means."
644
94 FEDERAL REPORTER.
lfappears that the statuary in question was not before the board as a basis for said finding, and it was not produced hi this court. If the d'eCisio:D., of said board were based upon conflicting evidence, I sllould hesitate to it, under the decision in White v. U. S., 18 C. ,C. A. 541, 72 Fed. 251. But inasmuch as said finding that this statuary is "mechanic3! . productions executed by .artisans, and by rilecha:nical means," is wholly without evidence to support it, it is the duty ofthis court to disregard it, under lore Van 5 C. C. A.·579, 56 Fed. 477. The only evidence produced was the declaraticin ofJhe sculptor, Marquis, a certificate, and the sketches and teStimony of the architect and sculptor who made said sketches, and who testified that said Marquis was a well-known sculptor, whose represented at the .Salon in Paris, and that in order to producesuch statuary'. he woqld have to make a model in .clay, which woulq be transferred to plaster, and from the plaster the statue would be in whatever materi:;tl might be called fOir. The'srp.gle question in this case is whether these ,statues are the professio'nal productions of a sculptor. In passing upon the question whether they are or are not professional productions, I do not mean to be understood as holding that the testimony or affidavit of the sculptor is conclusive; nor do I wish to be understood as assenting to the argument of counsel for the importers that it is only necessary that the work be done by a professional sculptor, even if it be not a work of art. The courts have frequently held that the object of this statute is to encourage the importation of works of art done by or under the hand or eye of a sculptor or artist. It seems clear that con'gress has meant, b;y the term "professional productions," productions so in the line of the sculptor's profession as to constitute artistic In the present case there is no evidence that this is IJ,ot the profeSSIOnal work of sculptor, and inasmuch as it appears that he is a sculptor of. high professional standing, and inasmuch as he has declared upon oath that he is a sculptor or statuary by profession, and that the statuary mentioned and described in the accompanying invoice was executed by him, and inasmuch as the consular agent has testified that these statements are true to the best of his knowledge and belief, I think it is sufficiently proved, in the absence of contradictory evidence, that it is his professional production, irrespective of the additional statement to that effect in his affidavit. The contention founded on the fact that the design was produced by an artist in this country is disposed of by the decision of the supreme court of the United States in Tutton v. Viti, 108 U. S. 312, 2 SUllo Ot. 687, where it was held that professional productiollS of a statuary were not limited to these. executed from models or from completed statues of another sculptor, or from antique masterpieces, and by the decision in Merritt v. 'fiffany, 132 U. S. 16'9, 10 Sup. Ot. 52. The decision of the board of general appraisers is reversed.
UNITED STATES V. LOUIS HINSBERGER C"CT-GLASS CO.
645
UNITED STATES v. LOUIS HINSBERGER CUT-GLASS 00. SAME v. FENSTElRIDR et at (Circuit Court, S. D. Kew York. May 27, 1899.) Nos. 2,751, 2,931.
1.
CUSTOMS DUTIES-CI,ASSIFTCATION-MANUFACTURES OF GLASS.
Plain unground glass blanks, intended to be finished by cutting into dishes for table use, are not "glassware," within the meaning of paragraph 100o! the tariff act of 1897, but are dutiable under paragraph 112, as manufactures of glass not specially provided for.
2.
SAME-GnouND·GLAss BLANKS.
Glass blanks ground on the edge and bottom are dutiable under paragraph 100 of the tariff act of 1897, as "articles of glass, ground," without regard to the purpose for wbieh the grinding was done.
Appeals by the United States from decisions of the board of general appraisers which reversed the action of the collector of customs in assessing duty upon the importations in question. J. T. Van Rensselaer, Asst. U. S. Atty. Albert Comstock, for the importers. . l'OWNSEND, District Judge. The merchandise in question com prises two glass blanks,-one ground, the other unground. The former was classified as an "article of glass, ground," the latter as "blown glassware," and each was assessed at 60 per cent. ad valorem, under paragraph 100 of the act of 1897. The importer protested, elaiming that they were dutiable as "manufactures of glass not specially provided for," at 45 per cent. ad valorem, under paragraph 112 of saill act. The board sustained the contention of the importers, and the United States appeals. The plain unground blank is almost identical with the oval glass blank which was before Judge \Vheeler in the case of u.. S. v. Fenstercr, 84 Fed. 14!l; and Jndge \Vheeler there held (affirming the decision of the board of general appraisers) that these artieles were manufactures of glass, under paragraph 102 of the act of ll'i!l4, as against the classification of glassware under paragraph 88 of the same act. Oonsiderable new testimony has been taken on both sides in the present case as to commercial and common designation. Seven of the trade witnesses testif,y that these blanks are ineluded within the commercial term "glassware." Five of the witnesses, deny statement. Therefore no trade designation is proved. There is much force in the contention of counsel for the United States that the word "glassware" is a comprehensive word, as was held in Rossman v. Hedden, 145 U. S. 561,12 Sup. Ct. 925, and that, as these blanks are articles made of glass, they are glassware in fact, within the dictionary definitions; but, as I am not satisfied that the contention or proof differs materially in character or degree from that which was before Judge Wheeler, I feel bound by his conclusion that said blanks are not glassware in fact, and as to them the decision of the board of general appraisers is affirmed. The other blank is ground on the edge and bottom. There is considerable conflict in the testimony as to the purpose for which the