Hartranft v. Sheppard/Opinion of the Court

by Morrison Waite

United States Supreme Court

125 U.S. 337

Hartranft  v.  Sheppard

The single question in this case is whether quilts composed of cotton and eider-down, or silk and eider-down, the eider-down in each case being the component material of chief value, are dutiable, on importation into the United States, as manufactures of cotton or of silk not enumerated, at 35 per centum ad valorem if of cotton, and at 50 per centum ad valorem if of silk, or at 20 per centum ad valorem as manufactured articles not enumerated, the latter being the amount admitted to be due by the importer in his protest. The collector demanded the highest rates, which were paid, and this suit was brought to recover back the difference between these amounts and a duty of 20 per cent.

The case depends upon the effect to be given the following provisions of the act of March 3, 1883, (chapter 121, 22 St. 488:) 'Cotton cords, braids, gimps, galloons, webbing, goring, suspenders, braces, and all manufactures of cotton not specially enumerated or provided for in this act, and corsets, of whatever material composed, thirty-five per centum ad valorem.' Section 2502, schedule I, p. 506. The quilts made of cotton and eider-down were assessed under that provision. 'All goods, wares, and merchandise, not specially enumerated or provided for in this act, made of silk, or of which silk is the component material of chief value, fifty per centum ad valorem.' Id., schedule L, p. 510. Those of silk and eider-down were assessed under that provision. 'There shall be levied, collected, and paid, on the importation of all raw or unmanufactured articles not herein enumerated or provided for, a duty of ten per centum ad valorem; and all articles manufactured, in whole or in part, not herein enumerated or provided for,a duty of twenty per centum ad valorem.' Section 2513, p. 523. The claim of the importer was that the articles should be assessed at 20 per centum under that section. By section 2499, p. 491, it was provided as follows: 'And on all articles manufactured from two or more materials the duty shall be assessed at the highest rates at which the component material of chief value may be chargeable. If two or more rates of duty should be applicable to any imported article, it shall be classified for duty under the highest of such rates: provided, that non-enumerated articles similar in material and quality and texture, and the use to which they may be applied, to articles on the free list, and in the manufacture of which no dutiable materials are used, shall be free.' Quilts are non-enumerated manufactured articles, composed of two or more materials. Eider-down is on the free list. Section 2503, p. 518. As eider-down is the component material of chief value in the quilts involved in this suit, and that is free, it follows that they are manufactured articles not provided for, and therefore chargeable with the duty of 20 per centum ad valorem, under section 2513, rather than 35 per centum as a manufacture of cotton, or 50 per centum as a manufacture of which silk is the component material of chief value. As such was the opinion of the court below, its judgment to that effect is affirmed.

Notes