IN RE HEMPSTEAD.
967
that even if this were otherwise, the differences between the two proceedings in question are so marked that they cannot be regarded as equivalents. The petition is dismissed.
In re HEMPSTEAD et aI. (Circuit Court, E. D. Pennsylvania. No. 31. 1. CUSTOMS DUTIES-BOARD OF GENERAL ApPRAISERs-HEARING OF ApPEALS.
August 14, 1899.)
1'here is nothing in the law governing the board of general appraisers which requires that there should be original testimony heard by them in every case on appeal, and such testimony is unnecessary where the record and exhibits sent up by the collectur furnish sufficient basis for their decision. The fact that the author of a medical work quotes largely from the writings of others, and deals with the results of investigations made by others, does not deprive his bool. of its character as one of "original scientific research," entitled to free entry, under paragraph 410 of the tariff act of 1894. The word "books," as used in the provision of the free list of the tariff act of 1894 (paragraph 410), permitting the free entry of "scientific books and periodicals devoted to original scientific research," cannot be given such a narrow construction as to exclude the unbound sheets of a scientific book. SHEETS.
2. SAME-CLASSIFICATION-SCIENTIFIC BOOKS.
3.
T'his was a proceedIng by the United States to review the decision of the board of general appraisers reversing the action of the collector in assessing for duty certain merchandise imported by O. G. Hempstead & Son. ' James M. Beck and M. F. McCullen, for the United States. Frank P. Prichard, for respo.ndents. GRAY, Circuit Judge. The facts in this case are established by the record, and are undisputed by either party. They are as follows: O. G. Hempstead & Son imported into the port of Philadelphia, on 26, 1896, certain merchandise, consisting of printed sheets of a work entitled "A Text-Book on Diseases of the Ear and Adjacent Organs, by Dr. Adam Politzer." After due entry, the merchandise in question was classified by the loeal appraiser, and a duty assessed thereon of 25 per cent. ad valorem, under paragraph 311 of the tariff act of August 28, 1894. The importers made protest, and appealed from this classification and assessment of duty, and claimed that the merehandise was free fl'om duty, under paragraph 410 of the said tariff act. The appeal then came before the board of United States general appraisers, and on November 29, 1896, the board reversed the decision of the collector of this port, and found that the merchandise in question was exempt from duty, undel' paragraph 410 of lmid tariff act. 1'10 witnesses were called on behalf of the importers hefOl'e the board of United States general appraisers. Three questions have been raised by the government, viz.: First. That the importer offered no oral testimony before the board of appraisers, and
968
95 FEDERAL REPORTER.
that,' therefore, the board had no right to reverse the decision of the collector. Second. That on the merits the decision of the board of general appraisers to the effect that the book was a book of original scientific research was erroneous. Third. That because the book was imported in unbound sheets it was not a book, and therefore not entitled to free entry. As to the first question, in the opinion of the court, there is nothing in the law governing the action of the board of appraisers which requires that in every case there should be original testimony heard by said appraisers in the case of au appeal taken to them, or that witnesses'shcmld be actually called to testify whether, in the opinion of the .bo,ard, their testimony was necessary. or not. .The collector sends up the i'ecord, and all papers and exhibHs that were before him, and necessary for the decision of the case. 'It may well happen that such record and papers will afford a sufficient basis for the judgment of the board of appraisers. This is especially true in the present case, where the principalthing to be considered was the character of the book imported, a copy of which was before the board. As to the second question, paragraph 410 of the customs act of 1894, prescribing a free list, includes "scientific books and periodicals devoted to original scientific research." An inspection of the book will demonstrate that it is a work devoted to original scientific discussion or research, and not merely a compilation. That a book of this kind should necessarily quote largely from the writings of others. and deal with the results of investigations made by others, not only does not deprive the book of its character as one of original scientific research, .but may tend to characterize the author as one well qualified for the original work he has in hand. But in this case there was testimony taken under the order of Judge Dallas, before one of the appraisers, and returned to the circuit court for its enlightenment. In this way we have the testimony of three eminent physicians, all tending to establish the finding of the board of general appraisers in regard to the character of the book imported,and, as this testimony is not contradicted or denied by the government, it is sufficient of itself to determine the matter for the court. As to the third question, that because the book was imported in unbound sheets it was not a book, and therefore not entitled to free entry, it is not necessary to say more than that no sueh narrow definition of the word "book" can be accepted by the court. The statute itself does not undertake to make any such distinction. The collected sheets containing in orderly and connected fashion the record of the intellectual and literary work of the author is a book unless for some particular and special purpose a narrower definition is prescribed by law. The object of the statute was evidently to remove as far as possible obstruction to· the freest possible circulation of the results of original scientific inquiry tending to the advancement of learning and the benefit of humanity. The decision of the board of general appraisers is therefore affirmed.
969
In re
HEMPSTEAD.
(Circuit Court, E. D. Pennsylvania. August 15,_ 1899.) No. 48. CUSTOMS DUTIES-CI,ASSIFICATION-SJLR BANNERS FOR PRESENTATION TO CnURCH.
Silk banners, embroidered by hand in designs specially prepared by an artist, made and imported expressly for presentation to an incorporate(i church society, to be used in connection with its service, and whic:h deriv'e their value from their artistic appearance, and not from the fact that they are embroidered, are "works of art," entitled to free entry, under paragraph G8() of the tariff act of 1894, and are not dutiable as silk embroidery, . under paragraph 301.
Frank P. Prichard, for appellant. James M. Beck, for the United States. GRAY, Circuit Judge. This is an appeal by William O. Hemp: stead, trading as O. G. Hempstead & Son, from the decision of the board of United States general appraisers affirming the action of the collector of the port of Philadelphia in respect to the classification for duty of five church banners. In 1896 the importers brought into York five highly decorated church banners for presentation to the Trinity Lutheran Church, of Reading, Pa., by the Women's Missionary Society of the same city. The designs embodied in these banners had been specially ordered by the donors, through their president, to be made by a professional artist from Nuremburg. To aid him in this work, and in order that the banners, when completed, should correspond with the architecture of the church, photographic views of the church interior were sent to him. After these designs were completed, they were sent to the sisters of a Lutheran institution at Neu Dettelsau, Germany, who from them made the banners or hangings by the most exquisite and artistic needlework upon silk foundations. After their completion, which in all consumed about one year, the banners were sent to America for presentation to the church, after which they were to be exhibited by it during the hours of public worship. The collector of the port, upon their entry, assessed duty upon the articles at the rate of 50 per centum ad valorem,under paragraph 301 of the act of August 27, 1894, as silk embroidery. The importers filed a protest, claiming that the articles were exempt from duty, under the provisioIl of paragraph 686 of the same act, as "works of art" of the character therein designated. These two paragraphs, which are therefore involved in the determination of the character of these articles, are as follows: 301. Laces and articles made Wholly or in part of lace and embroideries, including articles or fabrics embroidered by hand or machinery, handkerchiefs, neck rumings, and ruchings, nettings and veilings, clothing ready made, and articles of wearing apparel of every description, including knit goods made up or manufactured wholly or in part by the tailor, seamstress or manufacturer, composed of silk, or of which silk is the component material of chief value, and beaded silk goods, not specially provided for in this act, fifty per centum ad valorem. 686. Works of art, the productIon of American artists residing temporarily abroad, 0,1' other works of art, including pictorial paintings on glass, imported