Evans v. United States

62 Cust. Ct. 492, 299 F. Supp. 524, 1969 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 3489
CourtUnited States Customs Court
DecidedApril 29, 1969
DocketC.D. 3809
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 62 Cust. Ct. 492 (Evans v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States Customs Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Evans v. United States, 62 Cust. Ct. 492, 299 F. Supp. 524, 1969 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 3489 (cusc 1969).

Opinion

Donlon, Judge:

These two protests, consolidated for purposes of trial, litigate once again the issue, previously litigated several times, as to whether used wool dryer felts are or are not dutiable as wool rags. The new factor here is that the issue arises now under the tariff schedules, whereas earlier cases were decided under the Tariff Act of 1930. The new provision for wool rags in the tariff schedules is different. It also is more precisely worded.

Following earlier decisions under the 1930 Act, used wool dryer felts in lai’ge rolls, such as those at bar, were classified in liquidation as waste or scrap, not specially provided for. The merchandise at bar was so entered, under item 793.00 of TSUS, at a duty rate of 4 percent ad valorem.

The appraiser of merchandise at Pittsburgh made no change in the value as it was entered, but notified plaintiff that he was advisorily classifying the entered merchandise under item 390.40 of TSUS, with specific duty at the rate of 9 cents per pound. Thereafter these entries were so liquidated.

Plaintiff protested the liquidation and now seeks judgment for the alleged overcharge resulting from classification under item 390.40.

Item 390.40 is a part of schedule 3, part 7, subpart C, TSUS, and in relevant part is as follows:

[493]*493Subpart C headnotes:
1. The term “rags”, as used in this subpart, covers new fabric clippings, ancl fabrics, wearing apparel, furnishings, and other textile articles which are worn out, soiled, torn, or otherwise damaged, all the foregoing, whether or not carbonized, fit only—
(i) for the recovery of their constituent fibers or materials,
(ii) for use in paper making,
(iii) for manufacture into polishing wheels and similar articles,
(iv) for use as wiping rags of any size, or
(v) for similar uses.
Hags:
Other:
890.40 Of wool_,_90 per lb.

Earlier decisions construing the dutiable classification of used wool dryer felts under the Tariff Act of 1930 include P. Silverman Son v. United States, 27 CCPA 324, C.A.D. 107; P. Silverman & Son v. United States, 32 CCPA 99, C.A.D. 292; P. Silverman & Son v. United States, 15 Cust. Ct. 303, Abs. 50611; and Hoyt, Shepston & Sciaroni, Imperial Rug Mills, Inc. v. United States, 57 Cust. Ct. 202, C.D. 2762.

Examination of those cases and of the record at bar suggests that the merchandise here is essentially similar to the merchandise of those cases, especially to that of the Sil/oerman cases. What is different, as above noted, is the law.

There was in the Tariff Act of 1930 no definition of the term “rags”. Absent statutory definition and, as well, commercial designation, the court found that the common meaning of the tariff term “rags” did not include used wool dryer felt hi large rolls.

Defendant urges, as authority for the protested change in classification to “rags”, that the language of TSTTS specifically eliminates size as a deterrent to classification as wiping rags, because the TSUS provision covers rags which, when fit only for use as wiping rags, may be “of any size.”

That these used dryer felts are rags within the TSUS definition of rags and that wool is the component material of chief value, seems to be conceded. The issue is whether they meet the statutory test of fitness. The litigation revolves around conflicting testimony as to use.

Mr. Joseph M. Evans testified that he is proprietor of plaintiff, a concern that handles wiping rags and waste and has been doing so for approximately thirty years.

[494]*494On trial defendant produced Jive samples, taken from three of the four entries in litigation. While the samples were admitted into evidence as specimens taken from entry shipments (exhibits 1 to 5 inclusive) , Mr. Evans cast doubt as to whether these particular small pieces were adequately representative of the merchandise at bar. Replying to a question as to whether these samples are “indicative” of the merchandise he imports, he replied: “It is material of this nature here. To tell you the truth, I have never seen such nice samples as this in my shipments, but it is this type of material.” (R. 13.) Pressed, he would go no further than to say that the exhibits produced by defendant “are beautiful samples, but it isn’t true this merchandise is bought on the basis of a beautiful looking samples [sio] like these two or three.” (R. 15,16.)

However, as to exhibits 6 to 14 inclusive Mr. Evans testified that, although they were not taken from the shipments at bar, they are representative of the merchandise of those shipments. In response to defense questions on voir dire, Mr. Evans reiterated that they are all representative of the entry merchandise.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

C. L. Hutchins & Co. v. United States
67 Cust. Ct. 354 (U.S. Customs Court, 1971)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
62 Cust. Ct. 492, 299 F. Supp. 524, 1969 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 3489, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/evans-v-united-states-cusc-1969.