In re Merchandise Imported by Hoit

75 F. 998, 1896 U.S. App. LEXIS 2852
CourtU.S. Circuit Court for the District of Massachusetts
DecidedAugust 19, 1896
DocketNo. 458
StatusPublished

This text of 75 F. 998 (In re Merchandise Imported by Hoit) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Merchandise Imported by Hoit, 75 F. 998, 1896 U.S. App. LEXIS 2852 (circtdma 1896).

Opinion

PUTNAM, Circuit Judge.

This proceeding relates to an importation known as “Pinaud’s Eau de Quinine Tonique.” It is essentially a proprietary preparation, although not medicinal, and therefore not within paragraph 58 of the act of 1894. For some years it has been a well-known article of commerce. On an appeal from the collector, the board of general appraisers classified this importation as within paragraph 61 of the act of 1894, which is as follows:

“Preparations used as applications to the hair, mouth, teeth, or skin, such as cosmetics, dentifrices, pastes, pomades, powders, and all toilet preparations, and articles of perfumery, not specially provided for in this act, forty per centum ad valorem.”

The collector has, as provided by law, applied to this court for a review of the decision of the board of general appraisers; claiming that the importation is dutiable under paragraph 7 of the act of 1894, or under paragraph 239. Paragraph 7 reads as follows:

“Alcoholic perfumery, including cologne water and other toilet waters,, and alcoholic compounds not specially provided for in this act, two dollars per gallon and fifty per centum ad valorem.”

Paragraph 239 reads as follows:

“On all compounds or preparations (except as specified in the preceding paragraph of the chemical schedule relating to medicinal preparations, of which alcohol is a component part), of which distilled spirits are a component part of chief value, not specially provided for in this act, there shall be levied a duty not less than that imposed upon distilled spirits.”

The United States also make a suggestion that, if the importation in issue is not covered by either of the paragraphs on which they rely, it comes within the provisions touching unenumerated articles; but those provisions plainly have no relation to this case.

We are satisfied with the testimony of Mr. Carmichael that the merchandise contains, of absolute alcohol, substantially 67 per centum, by volume, at 60 degrees Fahrenheit; that the solid residuum, amounting to about 18/ioo of 1 per centum, consists principally [999]*999of an odoriferous resin, having a fragrance similar to that of gum benzoin, a minute trace of sulphate of quinine, and also a very small percentage of essential oils, the remainder of the compound being water. The preparation is offered and recommended to the public according to the labels on the bottles containing it, as shown by the following evidence:

"Q. Now, I wish you would read to us the label that is on the outside o£ this bottle. Ans. A little of this wash, applied to the roots of the hair, night and morning, with a sponge, will be found excellent for removing scurf, Mrengt,honing the hair, and to prevent the same from falling out. It also renders the hair brilliant and soft, and it has a delicious and refreshing perfume. That is the English "label,’ and the translation of the French is, ‘To the basket of flowers; hygiene of the head; eau de quinine water as tonic; excellent against dandruff; to fortify the hair and prevent it from falling' out; to give it brilliancy and suppleness; it frees the hair from corrosive action of perspiration, a.nd leaves an agreeable and invigorating odor.’ ”

We are satisfied by the testimony of various large dealers appearing in the record, including that of Mr. Burnett, who is the principal witness for the United States, if not the only one, that, although the compound contains an agreeable perfume, it is not perfumery, in any sense of the word, whether it he interpreted according to its popular, commercial, or statutory meaning, but that, on account of the coloring matter and oils which it contains, it stains, and cannot be used as such. The agreeable odor is purely incidental, the same as found iu thousands of other articles which are in no sense perfumery, but which are nevertheless thus made attractive for common use. Taking the testimony of Mr. Burnett, an extensive dealer and manufacturer; of Mr. Utard, agent of Pinaud in the United States; of Mr. Froelich, who for several years has had charge of that department of the business of Stern Bros., widely known as retailers in the city of New York, which includes Pinaud’s Eau de Quinine Tonique; of Mr. Fuller, representing extensive dealers, manufacturers and importers in various toilet articles, including this; and of Mr. Weed, buyer of this class of merchandise for W. F. Schiefflin & Co., like dealers,- all of whom unite in sustaining the importer on these particular points of fact, we are satisfied that the importa ti on in issue has never been known commercially, or in any sense, as perfumery, hut has always been known commercially, and in every sense, as a preparation used as an application to the hair,.and that it is such inherently. But this alone would not make it such an application within the meaning of paragraph 61, as to which the rule of interpretation ejusdem generis is made imperative by the words “such as cosmetics, dentifrices, pastes, pomades, powders.” Not every application to the hair is within that paragraph, hut only those which are specified there, or are akin thereto. But there can be no question, on the evidence of some of the witnesses we refer to, that this importation is also a “toilet preparation.” It is clearly intended for self-use at the toilet, and is thus used in the way in which articles commonly known as toilet preparations ordinarily are. It is therefore, to this extent, plainly within the letter and spirit of paragraph' 61. This conclusion of fact harmonizes with the findings [1000]*1000of the general appraisers. But they did not negative paragraph 7, which enumerates “alcoholic perfumery, including cologne water and other toilet waters.” We have already shown that this is not perfumery, in any ordinary sense of the word, or inherently. The language of paragraph 7, however, by its method of using the word “including,” broadens the word “perfumery,” so that, in its statutory ■sense at this place, it includes alcoholic toilet waters. There can be no doubt, moreover, that this expression “toilet waters,” in connection with the word “alcoholic,” is specific, to such an extent that anything contained in paragraph 61 must be regarded, with reference thereto, as generic. Therefore we have been compelled to consider whether the importation comes within that expression. Mr. Burnett, of whom we have already spoken, testified as follows:

“Q. What is the difference between toilet waters and toilet preparations? Ans. Toilet preparations are anything that is used for the toilet. Toilet waters are used in combinations and in the bath. Q. Would a toilet preparation include toilet waters? Ans. Yes, sir; I should think so. Q. But toilet waters include articles that are used chiefly for the bath? Ans. For the bath and complexion; for the person directly.”

In some portions of Mr. Burnett’s testimony he appears to classify this importation as toilet water. But notwithstanding this, and notwithstanding the expression “toilet waters” is somewhat ill defined, there can be no reasonable doubt that the extract we make from his testimony is in accordance with the fact.

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75 F. 998, 1896 U.S. App. LEXIS 2852, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-merchandise-imported-by-hoit-circtdma-1896.