Scharf Bros. Co. v. United States

1 Cust. Ct. 682, 1938 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 1499
Procedural entryThis page is a short order in Scharf Bros. Co. v. United States. Read the opinion of the Court — 1 Cust. Ct. 572
United States Customs Court·Decided October 21, 1938·No. No. 4420; Entry No. 766089, etc.·Published

Opinion

Evans, Judge:

In each of the reappraisement appeals listed in schedule A annexed and made a part hereof the merchandise, confectionery, was appraised on the basis of the foreign-market value under section 402 (c) of the Tariff Act of 1930. The importer appealed to reappraisement and claims that the proper basis upon which to assess duty is the United States value of said merchandise as defined in subsection (e) of said section 402. Only two types of merchandise are involved. One type consists of a small circular cake of licorice candy about the size of a quarter upon one surface of which are stamped the words “Mayfair Licorice Cake.” The reverse side is flat. The other variety is a mixed candy designated on the invoice as Mayfair Licorice All Sorts. The expression “all sorts” appears to be used synonymously with the word “mixed” as applied to candy.

The importer offered in support of his appeal the testimony of two witnesses and an affidavit of the managing director of the manufacturing concern in England, together with samples of the merchandise involved.

The Government called as its witness the examiner who passed upon the merchandise under whose testimony certain exhibits and special agents’ reports were admitted.

The first witness for the plaintiff was an officer of the importing company who made the contract in England for the purchase of the merchandise involved herein. He testified that he had seen mer[683]*683chandise of this type manufactured in England and that he was familiar with the component parts of each of these types of confectionery.

Taking up the licorice cakes first, he stated that the imported variety known as Mayfair licorice cakes, was different from the licorice cakes manufactured and sold in England by the concern that made the imported merchandise, to wit, Dunhills; that their product was'known im the-English market as Spanish Buttons; that they were made in a mould from a mixture that had to be slightly different because it was to be moulded, than the mixture used in the imported licorice cakes. He stated that the Spanish Button (the product which is sold in England) “is a moulded hot product; the Mayfair Cake is a cold process, made similar to the manner in which you would make cakes, such as stamping them out of a dough.”

The following then took place:

Judge Evans;-'Will you- describe a little more particularly the moulding process?' As I gather or surmise'-theyhave' moulds the'shape of-the button.
The Witness. Yes, with the impression in the moulds of the item itself, in order to be able to mould effectively.
Judge Evans. Then the materials are moulten and poured on?
The Witness. Yes, sir, in order to mould the materials, in their preparation, you must anticipate the moulding process, so the formulas are not alike, whereas in the instance of the “Mayfair Cake,” a cold dough is prepared and the individual cakes are stamped out cold.

On the question of the difference in appearance between the Spanish Buttons and the Mayfair Cakes this witness gave the following testimony in answer to questions:

By Mr. Richardson:
Q. Let’s continue with the process. Are you able to state the difference in visual aspect of the Spanish Button, and the Mayfair cakes? — A. Yes.
Q. What is the difference? — A. The Mayfair Cake, because of its process- — ■—
Q. Because of the moulding process?- — A. The stamping process, is not a very bright shiny product, whereas the Spanish Button because of the formula and process has a very high lustre and is different in appearance.
Q. Now how about the components of the “Mayfair Cakes” and the “Spanish Button”? — A. The Spanish Button is a hard licorice; the Mayfair Cake is a soft licorice. The Spanish Button contains a great deal more gelatine.
Q. How do you know that?
Mr. Weeks. I move to strike that out. He has not given us the formula he saw.
Judge Evans. The question he has just put to the witness I think will bring it out.
Mr. Weeks. Exception.
Judge Evans. If he has seen it.
By Mr. Richardson:
Q. How do you know that? — A. We have it a hard product, and the—
Q. You have seen it made? — A. Yes.
Q. You saw the gelatine put in it? — A. Yes, sir.
Mr. Weeks. I object to Counsel leading the witness.
[684]*684By Mr. Richakdson:
Q. Do you know whether there was any difference in the kind of licorice? — A. There are two different grades of licorice used in the manufacture of these two products.
Q. Which was used in the Spanish Buttons? — A. Product made in Smyrna.
Q. A product made in Smyrna? — A. Yes.
Q. What is it called? — A. I believe “licorex.”
Q. And what was the licorice product used in the Mayfair cakes? — A. An American prepared product.
Q. In regard to size, is there any difference in the size between the Spanish Button and the Mayfair Cakes? — A. The Spanish Button is smaller in size. The Spanish Button is perfect in shape, and has a very clear impression on it; produced by the mould. The Mayfair Cake is large.
Q. Did you see or have you seen in Great Britain, the packages in which the Spanish Buttons are sold? — A. I have.
Q. Can you describe the difference in the packaging between that and the Mayfair cakes which you import? — A. The liquorice buttons—
Q. The Spanish buttons? — A. The Spanish Buttons are packed in seven pound wooden boxes, that were decorated, lace paper used inside the boxes for decorative purposes. The boxes had decorated labels on, and sixteen of these boxes, packed in an outside wooden box.

The witness identified a box of the Mayfair Cakes as representative of the importation and the same was received in evidence and marked Exhibit 2. His attention was called to the fact that these cakes in Exhibit 2 were more or less stuck together and he claimed that it was due to the stamping process. If they were moulded they would not stick together that way, he said. He further stated that the Spanish Buttons had an impression on each side, or, as he stated, were “moulded on both sides."

Concerning the Mayfair Licorice All Sorts candy the witness stated that All Sorts meant a mixture of all lands, creams and licorice filled, a mixture of various shapes and colors. He stated that he had seen the Dunhills All Sorts and the Dunhills Tower Brand All Sorts and gave considerable testimony as to the differences between these and the Mayfair All Sorts.

This witness stated that there were about 15 different pieces in the Tower Brand and in the Mayfair All Sorts there were 7 different pieces. He then gave the following testimony:

Q.

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Scharf Bros. Co. v. United States, 1 Cust. Ct. 682, 1938 Cust. Ct. LEXIS 1499 (cusc 1938).

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