In re Food Conservation Act

254 F. 893, 1918 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 796
CourtDistrict Court, N.D. New York
DecidedDecember 26, 1918
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 254 F. 893 (In re Food Conservation Act) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, N.D. New York primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Food Conservation Act, 254 F. 893, 1918 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 796 (N.D.N.Y. 1918).

Opinion

RAY, District Judge.

[1] Act Aug. 10, 1917, c. 53, § 15, 40 Stat. 282 (Comp. St. 1918, § 3115%Z), provides:

“That from and after thirty days from the date of the approval of this act
no foods, fruits, food materials, or feeds shall be used in the production of distilled spirits for beverage purposes; * * * nor shall there he imported into the United States any distilled spirits. * * * Any person who willfully violates the provisions of this section, * * * or who shall import any such liquors without first obtaining a license so to do when a license is required under this section, * * * shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $5,000, or by imprisonment for not more than two years, or both.”

This provision forbids and prohibits the importation — that is, bringing — into the United States of any distilled spirits, and makes such bringing in a crime punishable by fine or imprisonment, and the fine and term of imprisonment are specified. This section is not a part of the customs laws, providing for the importation of “dutiable” goods.

Section 3096, c. 11, R. S. U. S. (Comp. St. § 5808), “Provisions Applying to Commerce with Contiguous Countries,” provides:

“All persons may import any merchandise of which the importation shall not he entirely prohibited, into the districts which are or may be established on the northern and northwestern boundaries of the United States, in vessels or boats of any burden, and in rafts or carriages of any kind or nature whatsoever.”

This does not permit the importation of distilled spirits, as, since the enactment of August 10, 1917, the importation has been absolutely and wholly prohibited, and even before that a duty was imposed on distilled spirits, and they could only be imported through the custom house on payment of the duties imposed.

Section 3098, R. S. U. S. (Comp. St. § 5810), provides that:

“The * * * driver of any carriage or sleigh, and every other person, coming from any foreign territory adjacent to the United States into the United States, with merchandise subject to duty, shall deliver, immediately on his arrival within the United States, a manifest of the cargo or loading of such * * * carriage or sleigh, or of the merchandise so brought from such foreign territory, at the office of any collector or deputy collector which shall -be nearest to the boundary line, or nearest to the road or waters by which such merchandise is brought”

[895]*895—same to be verified and contain a description of the property, etc. The next section, section 3099 (section 5811), provides that if this is not done, or if the custom house be passed by—

“the merchandise subject to duty, and so imported, shall bo forfeited to the United States, together with the vessel, boat * * * or the carriage or sleigh, * * * d/rmcing the same, * * * and such master * * * or other importer shall be subject to a penalty o-i! four times tbo value of the merchandise so imported.”

This section, providing for the forfeiture of the vehicle in which goods are brought into the United States without entry or payment of duty, applies to vehicles drawing or transporting “dutiable goods” only.

Prior to the enactment of the law of August 10, 1917, distilled spirits were subject to duty, and hence, if brought in in violation of law— that is, without payment of duty — the spirits and vehicle in which transported could be seized as forfeited under the provisions of the statute quoted. I find no express and specific provision for the forfeiture and seizure of goods brought into the United States, where the importation is absolutely prohibited by statute, or of the vehicle, etc., by which such goods or merchandise was drawn or in which carried. Such merchandise is not dutiable. But I do find the following which I think applicable in this case. Section 3059, R. S. U. S. (Comp. St. § 5761), specifies the officers who may make searches and seizures, and section 3061 (section 5763) provides that any such officer—

“may stop, search, and examine, as well without as 'within their respective districts, any vehicle, beast, or person, on which or. whom ho or they shall suspect there is merchandise which is subject to duty, or shall have been introduced into the United States in any manner contrary to law, * * and if any such officer or other person so authorized shall find any merchandise on or about any such vehicle, beast or person, ® “ ® which he shall have reasonable cause to believe is subject to duty, or to have been unlawfully introduced into the United States, whether by the person, in possession or charge, or by, in, or upon such vehicle, beast or otherwise, he shall seize and secure the same for trial.”

Section 3062 (section 5764) then provides:

“Every such vehicle and beast, or either, together with teams or other motive power used in conveying, drawing, or propelling such vehicle or merchandise, and all other appurtenances * * ® shall be subject to seizure and forfeiture.”

These sections were enacted in 1866 and are still in force. Under their provisions, standing alone, the distilled spirits brought into the United States from Canada since the act of August 10, 1917, became a law, as well as the vehicles in which same were brought, become subject to seizure and forfeiture, inasmuch as the distilled spirits were and are brought in “contrary to law.” The bringing in is absolutely prohibited. But section 15 of the act of August 10, 1917, provides a punishment by fine or imprisonment for so bringing in or importing the liquors, and makes no reference directly or indirectly, or by inference, to any added punishment or penalty by way of forfeiture of the merchandise, liquors, so brought in, or of the vehicle in which transported into the United States. Is the punishment prescribed by section 15 of [896]*896the act of 1917 full, complete, comprehensive, exclusive, and final, and does it exclude or preclude the enforcement of the forfeiture prescribed by sections 3061 and 3062, R. S., above referred to ? Section 3082, R. S. U. S. (Comp. St. § 5785), provides:

“If any person shall fraudulently or knowingly import or bring into the United States, or assist in so doing, any merchandise, contrary to law, or shall receive, conceal, buy, sell, or in any manner facilitate the transportation, concealment, or sale of such merchandise after importation, knowing the same to have been imported contrary to law, such merchandise shall be forfeited and the offender shall be fined in any sum not exceeding five thousand dollars nor less than fifty dollars, or be imprisoned for any time not exceeding two years, or both. Whenever, on trial for a violation of tms section, the defendant is shown to have or to have had possession of such goods, such possession shall be deemed evidence sufficient to authorize conviction, unless the defendant shall explain the possession to the satisfaction of the jury.”

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Bluebook (online)
254 F. 893, 1918 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 796, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-food-conservation-act-nynd-1918.