Stone v. United States

2 Ct. Cust. 46, 1911 WL 19882, 1911 CCPA LEXIS 115
CourtCourt of Customs and Patent Appeals
DecidedMay 8, 1911
DocketNo. 516; No. 527
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 2 Ct. Cust. 46 (Stone v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Customs and Patent Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Stone v. United States, 2 Ct. Cust. 46, 1911 WL 19882, 1911 CCPA LEXIS 115 (ccpa 1911).

Opinion

Montgomery, Presiding Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court:

The importations the subjects of controversy in these two cases are, as to the first-entitled cause, currycombs, hoof picks, rack chains with two snaps, a swivel, and a ring, horse clippers, and parts' of horse clippers. As to the second-entitled cause, whip thongs, lip straps, bridle fronts, pony bridles, and leather-covered buckles.

The above-described importations of Stone & Co. and Bartley Bros. & Hall, which were the subject of protest in the first-entitled cause were classified as “manufactures of metal and manufactures of leather, and dutiable, respectively, at the rate of 45 per cent under paragraph 199 of the tariff act of 1909 and at the rate of 40 per cent under paragraph 452.

The importation of whip thongs protested in the second entitled cause was classified as manufactures of leather, dutiable at the rate of 40 per cent under paragraph 452. A further question raised in the second above-entitled cause will be dealt with later.

[47]*47The principal question presented in the two cases is whether the word “saddlery” is broad enough, either in its ordinary signification or by any extended use established by evidence of commercial designation, to include such articles as currycombs, hoof picks,' horse clippers, rack chains, and whip thongs, the articles involved.in this importation.

Turning to the lexicographers we find the word “saddlery” defined by thé Standard Dictionary as “saddles and whatever belongs to them collectively; all leather articles and their fittings used about horse furniture.” The Century Dictionary defines “saddlery” as “saddles and their appurtenances in general; hence by extension, all articles concerned with the equipment of horses and especially those made of leather, with their necessary metal fittings.” In Worcester the term “saddlery” is defined as “saddles and other articles of horse gear made by a saddler.”

•It is clear that such articles as are used in the care of horses and as stable equipment do not fall within these definitions. The definition is not broad enough to include everything that may be used in the care of a horse. For instance, in Veil v. United States (113 Fed. Rep., 856), it was said by Coxe, district judge:

I do not think it can be contended that “saddlery” is limited to articles of leather, because it appears that there is a saddle cloth and I suppose the court may take judicial notice that the surcingle is made of canvas. On the other hand, I think the word “saddlery” should not be expanded to apply to these articles in suit, which belong more properly to the veterinary department. “Saddlery,” whatever else it may or may not mean, ought to be applied to the trappings of a well horse, a “going” horse, and not a sick one.

See also McCoy v. Hedden (38 Fed. Rep., 89, and T. D. 21713), which contains a definition of the word “saddlery” quite in harmony with that given by the lexicographers, which we think. is fairly comprehensive :

The term “saddlery” would seem to embrace most, if not all, articles used in the equipment of horses. It might be defined as the apparel of a horse, and would include halter, bridle, saddle, girth, crupper, etc., just as the apparel of a person would include hat-, shirt, suspenders, trousers, shoes, etc., * * "

It appears also that administrative construction is in accord with this definition. For instance, “horse shears” were classified under the provisions of “cutlery of all kinds” (T. D. 3195), while on the other hand, “saddle girths” have been held dutiable as saddlery, because “essential parts of saddles and intended exclusively for use as such.” (T. D. 5776.) And the practice of customhouses, as shown bv customs examiners, has been to return for duty articles that are used in parts of harness or as saddles as saddlery; also, saddle girths and rollers as saddlery, but currycombs, hoof picks, manger locks, and clippers have been returned according to the component [48]*48material of chief value; and articles which are used in the care of a horse, as distinguished from the equipment of a horse, have not been classified as saddlery.

In view of this construction by the administrative department and by the board and the courts, it is to be presumed, in the absence of very clear proof of a commercial designation, that the word “saddlery” was used in its ordinary signification by Congress in the enactment of the present statute. This is manifest by the comprehensive language used in the words “ harness, saddles, and saddlery.” Under the rule of ejusdem generis the inference is strong that there was intended to be included in this classification articles which were the gear or equipment of a horse.

The question is raised as to whether a commercial designation should prevail over such evidence of legislative intent as is afforded by this history of previous legislation and -the construction thereof. Upon this subject see Roosevelt v. Maxwell (20 Fed. Cas., 1155).

But we deem it unnecessary at this time to determine this question. We are convinced that there has been shown no such clear, uniform, and precise use of the term “saddlery” in the wholesale trade as to justify us in discarding the ordinary definition of the word and adopt one so comprehensive as to include articles which have never been heretofore known in common parlance under that.name.

The attempt to show this commercial usage was by three witnesses who are engaged in the business of selling goods. One witness testified, in answer to the question—

Q. Is the term saddlery one tbat is generally recognized in your trade? — A. Yes, sir.
Q. What variation, if any, have you found in the meaning of the word as used by you? — A. Simply goods for the use and care of horses: Some use the words, “horse goods,” but the term generally known is “saddlery goods.”
$ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
Q. Do you as a salesman actually make use of the word “saddlery?” — A. Why, oftentimes; yes, sir,
Q. And you hold yourself out as a dealer in saddlery? — A. Yes, sir. In the trade that is a recognized term, a word that is used — saddlery and horse goods. Sometimes-we say “saddlery and horse goods,” and sometimes use the word “-saddlery.”

It is evident that this language is used rather with the purpose of defining the vocation of the salesman than as any attempt to define-technically the character of the goods which he is offering for sale. It is well known that salesmen of drugs oftentimes sell in connection such articles as cigars and cigarettes, yet they would ordinarily speak of themselves as drug salesmen, and of their business as druggists. It would hardly do to say that this would show conclusively that-cigars or cigarettes are drugs. The testimony of the other witnesses-is of similar character, and we agree with the Board of General-Appraisers that it is not persuasive to show that the term saddlery is synonymous with horse goods.

[49]*49The question is not wholly dissimilar to that of Davies et al. v. United States (107 Fed. Rep., 266), in which case it was claimed that carriage whips were dutiable as saddlery and the evidence showed that they were sold in saddlery shops..

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2 Ct. Cust. 46, 1911 WL 19882, 1911 CCPA LEXIS 115, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/stone-v-united-states-ccpa-1911.