Eaton v. American Chain Co.

63 F.2d 783, 3 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) 1058, 12 A.F.T.R. (P-H) 298, 1933 U.S. App. LEXIS 3562
CourtCourt of Appeals for the Second Circuit
DecidedMarch 6, 1933
DocketNo. 179
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 63 F.2d 783 (Eaton v. American Chain Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Eaton v. American Chain Co., 63 F.2d 783, 3 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) 1058, 12 A.F.T.R. (P-H) 298, 1933 U.S. App. LEXIS 3562 (2d Cir. 1933).

Opinion

MANTON, Circuit Judge.

These three consolidated causes resulted below in judgments for refunds of manufacturer’s excise taxes, amounting to $640,508.-43, paid on the manufacture and sale of Weed chains, a product of the appellee. The tax was imposed under the terms of section 900 (3) of the Revenue Aet of 1921 (42 Stat. 291) and section 600 (3) of the Revenue Aet of 1924 (26 USCA § 881 note) for the periods of July, 1922, to July 1924. The taxing statute requires a monthly return. The 1921 act provides: “That from and after January 1, 1922, there shall be levied, assessed, collected, and paid upon the following articles sold or leased by the manufacturer, producer, or importer, a tax equivalent to the following percentages of the price for which so sold or leased — (.1) Automobile trucks and automobile wagons; * * * (2) other automobiles and motor cycles * * * except tractors; * * * (3) tires, inner tubes, parts, or accessories for any of the articles enumerated in subdivision (1) or (2), sold to any person other than a manufacturer or producer of any of the articles enumerated in subdivision (1) or (2). * * * ”

The Aet of 1924 (26 USCA § 881 note) reads: “On and after the expiration of thirty days after the enactment of this aet there shall be levied, assessed, collected, and paid upon the following articles sold or leased by the manufacturer, producer, or importer, a tax equivalent to the following percentage of the price for which so sold or leased — (1) Automobile truck chassis and automobile wagon chassis; * * * (2) other automobile chassis and bodies and motor cycles; * * * (3) tires, inner tubes, parts, or accessories for any of the articles enumerated in subdivision (1) or (2), sold to any person other than a manufacturer or producer of any of the articles enumerated in subdivision (1) or (2), 2% P®r centum. This subdivision shall not apply to chassis or bodies for automobile trucks, automobile wagons, or other automobiles. . * *' *”

[785]*785Appellee manufactures Weed chains and the sales taxed were made to others than manufacturers of automobile trucks, automobiles, and motorcycles — to jobbers and distributors. The tax was imposed only where the purchaser did not indicate the purchase was being made for a nontaxable use and was imposed in conformity with articles 15 and 16 of Regulation 47 promulgated by the Treasury Department. These regulations, in substance, defined accessories as articles designed to be attached to and used in connection with automotive vehicles, referred to in subdivisions (1) and (2) of each act, to add to their utility or ornamentation, and which are primarily adapted for use in connection with such vehicles whether or not essential to their operation. The Weed chains were advertised by the appellee to the public as adapted for and meeting the essential requirements of every known make of automobile and autotruck, and the Commissioner found them to he accessories. No tax was imposed by the jobber or distributor when he sold to the dealer who in turn sold to the user. The chains were patented and were designed and primarily adapted for automobile use. Later, when the automobile truck came into use, they were redesigned and adapted for use on trucks. Appellees have classified their chains as “truck chains,” “Weed Regulars,” and “Weed Regular Cord Chains.” Some chains were usable by tractors and fire trucks, but their use was chiefly (¡or automobiles and automobile trucks. The tax is imposed as a revenue raising measure.

It is trae, if there is a doubt as to the taxpayer’s liability, it should he resolved in his favor. American-La France Fire Engine Co. v. Riordan, 6 F.(2d) 964 (C. C. A. 2). Still, the purpose of the statutes must he given full effect, if possible, and the claim of exemption from taxation must be clear enough. Bank of Commerce v. Tenn., 161 U. S. 134, 16 S. Ct. 456, 40 L. Ed. 645. The scheme of the statute seems clear. The 1921 act and the 1924 act both show an intent by Congress to tax, first automobile trucks and automobile wagons and accessories therefor, sold on or in connection therewith and with the sale thereof at a fixed rate of 3 per cent.; second, other automobiles and motorcycles including the accessories sold on or in connection therewith and with the sale, except tractors, 5 per cent.; and, third, it imposes the tax when the parts and accessories are sold unattached, 5 per cent. In each instance the tax is imposed upon the manufacturer or the producer of the articles enumerated. If the chains axe aceessories, it is clear that Congress imposed a tax upon them when sold by this manufacturer.

The patent rights secured from the United States clearly specify that the chains were adaptable for use on automobiles to prevent skidding. They were described as primarily useful for this purpose. If Congress had intended to give exemption to such an accessory to an automobile, it would have so stated as it did in the case of tractors by reference in the statute, or it would have limited the language of the statute so as to afford clearly an exemption therefor, but it used the words “parts or accessories.” The use of such generic words intended, we think, that they should be given a broad signification to effectuate the purposes of the statute. Worth Bros. Co. v. Lederer, 251 U. S. 507, 40 S. Ct. 282, 64 L. Ed. 377; Forged Steel Wheel Co. v. Lewellyn, 251 U. S. 511, 40 S. Ct. 285, 64 L. Ed. 380. In Universal Battery Co. v. United States, 281 U. S. 580, 50 S. Ct. 422;, 423, 74 L. Ed. 1051, speaking of the statute, the court said:

“Thus the scheme of taxation embodied in these provisions centers around the motor vehicles enumerated therein. Their sale is the principal thing that is taxed, and the sale of parts and accessories ‘for’ such vehicles is taxed because the parts and accessories are within the same field with the vehicles and used to the same ends.”

The Supreme Court referred to Regulations 47 of the Commissioner with approval, saying:

“The regulations also have construed the term ‘accessory’ as meaning any article designed to be used in connection with such vehicle to add to its utility or ornamentation and which is primarily adapted for such use, whether or not essential to the operation of the vehicle.

“This construction of those terms has been adhered to in the Internal Revenue Bureau for about ten years, and it ought not to he disturbed now unless it be plainly wrong. We think it is not so, hut is an admissible construction. * * * We think the view taken in the administrative regulations is reasonable and should be upheld. It is that articles primarily adapted for use in motor vehicles are to be regarded as parts or accessories of such vehicles, even though there has been some other use of the articles for which they are not so well adapted.”

It cannot be seriously doubted that the Weed chains made under the circumstances described were designed and primarily adapt[786]*786ed for use in automobile trucks, wagons, other automobiles, and motorcycles. The testimony establishes- that the Weed chains were designed, adapted, and advertised to meet the essential requirements of automotive power vehicles, and were necessary to the accomplishment of their functions.

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63 F.2d 783, 3 U.S. Tax Cas. (CCH) 1058, 12 A.F.T.R. (P-H) 298, 1933 U.S. App. LEXIS 3562, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/eaton-v-american-chain-co-ca2-1933.