BLGIN ,WA'.rOH (IQ.
,v.
SPAULDING.
ELGIN WATCH
CO. v. SPAULDING, Collector.
(OirdUit (Jourt, N.
n. lllinoi&
January 22, 1884.)
CuSTOMS DUTIES- WATCH ENAMEL.
The substance known as "watch enamel" .is dutiable under schedule Mof' section 2504, as" watch material," at 25 per cent. ad valorem, and 'not under schedule .B of the same section, at 4U per cent., as .. manufactures of glass, or" of which glass shall be a component materiaL" Schedule"B WllS intented to cover only manufactured articlel' of glass, and not the crude material.
At Law. BLODGETT, J. The plaintiff, about November 22, 1882, imported an article which was charged by the inspector of customs a duty of 40 per cent. ad valorem under the last paragraph of schedule B, § 2504, as "manufactures of glass, or of which glass shall be a component material." The plaintiff paid the duty so imposed under protest, and brings this suit to recover the excess of such duties, contending that the article in question is dutiable as "watch material," under the last paragraph but one of schedule M, § 2504, at 25 per cent. ad valorem. The proof in the case shows that the article in question is known to the trade as "watch enamel," and used only, so far as is disclosed by the evidence, for enameling the faces or dials of watches. The proof also shows that the composition of this commodity is a secret; that the component parts of it are not known in this country; that it is used by being pulverized and made into a paste which is spread upon the copper disk which forms the base of the watch dial, and then baked and polished, so as to bring it to a proper surface; and tIre proof fails to show that it is practically applied to any other use than for enameling watch dials, although it is suggested that it is adapted to use as an enamel for clock faces, and perhaps might be used for scale columns in thermometers and similar instruments, and for other purposes where a white enamel surface is desirable. I ,come, therefore, to the conclusion that the article in question was imported by the plaintiff solely for use as enamel for watches, and tl;lat this is the only purpose for which it is at present imported by importers and: used in this country, and the only use known for it to the trade. The appearance of the article would seem to indicate that it is a vitreous material; at least the fracture would indicato that, and it may have in its composition some of .the material out of which glass is made; but it seems very palpable to me that it is not a manufacture of glass: it is not even crude or raw glass, and I therefore. conclude that it (lomes clearly within the desoription of "watch material." It,. is therefore, in my estimation, "watch material," and of glass. It is plain, I think, that the last paragraphQfB,
Storck ff Schumann, for plaintin. Gen. Joseph B. Leake, Dist. Atty., for defendant.
419
FEDERAL REPORTER.
"manufactures of glass, or of which p;lass is a component material," was intended to designate some manufactured article of glass, in form for use as such, and not crude or raw glass. It must be an article it was imported for Elome which was fitted and adapted at the purpose or use, and did not require further manipulation in order to make it dutiable as a manufacture of glass. Issue is found for the plaintiff. '
CRIOAGO
TIRE
& SPRING
WORKS
Co.
'/J.
SPAULDING, Collector.
(Oircuit Oourt. N. D. nUnoi,. January 22,1884.) CUSTOMS DUTIEs-TIRE BLOOMS-STEEL PAUTLY MANUFACTURED.
Held, that certain steel-tire blooms which had gone through several stages in the process of manufacture, were dutiable at 45 per cent. as" articles of steel partially manufactured," and could not be classified as" steel not otherwise provided for," the duty upon which is only 30 per cent.
At Law. BLODGETT, J. This is a suit to recover duties claimed by the plain. tiffs to have been illegally charged upon certain steel·tire blooms im· ported by plaintiff. The inspector of customs classed these blooms under the paragraph of schedule E, § 2504, which reads as follows: " All manufacturers of steel, or of which steel shall be a component part, not otherwise provided for, forty-five per cent. ad valorem. But all articles of steel partially manufactured, or of which steel shall. be a component, not otherwise provided for, shall pay the same rate of duty as if Wholly manufactured."
Storck &; Schumann, for plaintiff. . Gen. Joseph B. Leake, Dist. Atty., for defendant.
The plaintiffs lUsist that they should have beeu classed under an. other paragraph of schedule E, as "steel in any form, not otherwise provided for, thirty per cent. ad valorem." Payment of the duties demanded was made by plaintiff and appeal taken to the secretary of the treasury, who affirmed the action of the customs officer here. The proof shows that the steel·tire blooms in question are produced by first casting a flat round ingot of steel somewhat in the shape of a cheese, or grindstone with no hole through the center. It is then reheated and hammered so as to reduce its thickness, thereby compact. ing its grain or fiber; a hole is swaged through its center and it is then hammered on the horn or beak of an anvil, thereby expanding its circumferance and forming a grain or fiber in the circumferential di. rection, and when intended for locomotive tires the rudiments of a flange are formed or swaged also upon the outer periphery of the circle. In this form these blooms are ready for rolling, and are im·