National Molasses Co. of California v. United States

46 Cust. Ct. 267
CourtUnited States Customs Court
DecidedJune 15, 1961
DocketC.D. 2268
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 46 Cust. Ct. 267 (National Molasses Co. of California 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
National Molasses Co. of California v. United States, 46 Cust. Ct. 267 (cusc 1961).

Opinion

BichaRdson, Judge:

This case involves two protests which have been consolidated for the purposes of trial. The merchandise covered by the protests was imported from Taiwan. It is described on the invoices as “distillery molasses” and was assessed with duty at the rate of 4 per centum ad valorem under the provision in 19 U.S.C.A., section 1001, paragraph 1555 (paragraph 1555, Tariff Act of 1930), as modified by the Torquay Protocol to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, T.D. 52739, for “waste, not specially provided for.”

By amendment of the protests, it is claimed that the merchandise is properly dutiable at the rate of 0.014 cent per pound of total sugars under the provision for “molasses not imported to be commercially used for the extraction of sugar or for human consumption” in paragraph 502 of the same act, as modified by the Sixth Protocol to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, T.D. 54108.

Plaintiff does not deny that the involved product is a waste but contends that it is a waste molasses and is more specifically provided for under the provision for molasses in paragraph 502, supra. Plaintiff asserts that the provision is an eo nomine designation and includes [269]*269all forms of molasses under the rule governing such designations and stated by the court in the case of C. J. Tower & Sons v. United States, 47 C.C.P.A. (Customs) 85, C.A.D. 734, as follows:

* * * it is well settled that, in the absence of a showing of a contrary legislative intent, an eo nomine provision for an article without terms of limitation includes all forms of the article.

Defendant concedes the validity of plaintiff’s assertion with respect to the eo nomine character of the designation for molasses, but takes the position that the merchandise in issue is, in fact, not a molasses.

The case was submitted upon a record consisting of the official papers and the testimony of two witnesses, John Klempner, vice president and general manager of the plaintiff company, who appeared on its behalf, and Elmer J. Culp, technical director for the American Sugar Refining Co., who testified for the defendant.

The witness for plaintiff, whose experience with molasses extends over a period of 10 years, professed familiarity with many kinds of molasses. He defined molasses as a dark-brown, viscid liquid, the residue or byproduct of sugar extraction. He testified that he has been handling distillery molasses, which he indicated is another name for waste molasses, for 7 years and has imported both blackstrap and distillery molasses for 3 to 5 years. He stated that both of the last-named products are imported specifically marked “not for human consumption” and are used for cattle feeding. Although, on a few occasions, plaintiff has sold, in its imported condition, distillery molasses under that name, the instant merchandise was not so sold, but was mixed with blackstrap molasses to produce a product sold as a mixture for cattle feed.

The witness did not produce a sample of the product in issue but described it as a dark-brown, sirupy liquid, very similar to ordinary molasses, but slightly thinner, and not as sweet. He testified that distillery molasses is obtained through a fermentation process in which blackstrap molasses is diluted by the addition of water. Yeast is added. Fermentation takes place producing alcohol, which is channeled into receptacles, carbon dioxide, which escapes into the air, and a residue known as distillery molasses. According to the witness, the sugar content of molasses can vary greatly depending upon the coimtry of origin and the process by which the sugar is extracted from the original product. The total sugar content of the samples of the involved merchandise analyzed by the United States Customs Laboratory, as shown on reports in evidence as part of the official papers, is 12.3 per centum for one of the importations and 13 per centum for the other.

By the testimony of its witness, Elmer J. Culp, defendant sought to show that the instant merchandise is not a molasses and is not so considered in the trade. The witness is a chemical engineer, and the [270]*270company which he represents is a member of the United States Cane Sugar Refiners Association, an association concerned with the standardization of terminology in connection with sugar and molasses. He described molasses as a “dark-colored, syrupy by-product that originates as a residue from the manufacture of sugar.” The witness stated that he does not know of a molasses with a sugar content less than 46 per centum, and, in the course of his work, has never heard of the term “distillery molasses.” Based on his knowledge, experience, and observation, and upon consideration of the sugar content of the product in question and of the method by which it was obtained, the witness was of the opinion that the involved product is not a molasses, and is not considered as such in the trade, but rather corresponds to a residue which results from the fermentation of molasses to produce alcohol and which is known as molasses distiller’s condensed solubles.

Upon cross-examination*- the witness admitted that he has had no experience with the purchase or sale of molasses distiller’s condensed solubles and could not say that such product is not bought and sold under the name of distillery molasses. He agreed that there are various types and kinds of molasses and that the sugar content of molasses varies. The witness stated that the residue resulting from the fermentation of blackstrap molasses to produce alcohol contains all of the constituents of the original product, except that sugar which was fermented, and that these constituents are nutrients which serve to make the product desirable as an animal feed.

In order to decide whether the involved merchandise is dutiable under the provision for molasses in paragraph 502, as modified, sufra, it is necessary to determine what is meant by the term “molasses,” as used therein, and whether the instant merchandise comes within the meaning of the term. Neither party has alleged commercial designation. In the absence of proof of such designation, the common meaning of tariff terms must be given controlling effect. Armand, Schwab & Co., Inc. v. United States, 32 C.C.P.A. (Customs) 129, C.A.D. 296. Certain rules relative to the ascertainment of the common meaning of tariff terms are stated in the case of United States v. Mercantil, Distribuidora, S.A., Joseph H. Brown, 43 C.C.P.A. (Customs) 111, 117, C.A.D. 617, in the following language:

* * * The common meaning of a tariff term is a question of law for the court. United States v. Shalom & Co., 33 C.C.P.A. (Customs) 29, C.A.D. 311. In determining the common meaning of tariff terms, courts may receive evidence as to such meaning, but such evidence is merely advisory to the court. United States v. O. Brager-Larsen, 36 C.C.P.A. (Customs) 1, C.A.D. 388. The courts are not bound by such testimony, but will ordinarily chiefly rely upon decisions of the courts and upon the definitions found in dictionaries and other lexicographical authorities. United States v. Florea & Co., Inc., 25 C.C.P.A. (Customs) 292, 296, T.D. 49396.

[271]*271“Molasses” is defined in the dictionaries as follows:

The thick, brown or dark-colored, viscid sirup which drains from sugar in the process of manufacture.

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Bluebook (online)
46 Cust. Ct. 267, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/national-molasses-co-of-california-v-united-states-cusc-1961.