United States v. Bacile

4 Ct. Cust. 139, 1913 WL 20039, 1913 CCPA LEXIS 65

• Court: Court of Customs and Patent Appeals
• Decided: May 6, 1913
• Docket: No. 1046
• Status: Published

Opinion

De Vries, Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court:

This appeal involves the same issue as that decided this day by the court in United States v. Palma, infra (4 Ct. Cust. Appls., 140; T. D. 33412).

Olive oil was imported in tins containing approximately 5 gallons. The question arose as to the applicability of the rate of duty under paragraph 38 of the tariff act of 1909, which is as follows:

38. Olive oil, not specially provided for in this section, forty cents per gallon; in bottles, jars, kegs, tins, or other packages, containing less than five gallons each, fifty cents per gallon.

The collector reported in this case as follows:

As the quantity of olive oil in each container vas less than 5 gallons, duty was assessed at 50 cents per gallon under paragraph 38.

The only testimony introduced by the importer was that of the importer, who testified as follows:

Q. You sell those tins just as they come, without opening? — A. In cases. Sometimes I sell by the 5 gallons, sometimes I get a small order, and then I open them and put the oil in 1 and 2 gallon.

Q. When you sell them without opening do you sell them as 5-gallon fins?— A. Yes, sir.

- This evidence is plainly insufficient to establish a commercial usage in the premises. It requires no further comment to demonstrate that fact. .

The case is controlled by the reasoning adopted by the court in. United States v. Palma, infra (T. D. 33412). For the reasons therein stated, the decision of the Board of General Appraisers is reversed.