Counsel for Plaintiff in Error.

the conclusions there urged upon us, nothing would be gained by a minute discussion of the several arguments advanced. If the subject had come before us unembarrassed by previous decisions it would have been worthy of a more thorough discussion. As it is, we are content to abide by the views that have heretofore prevailed in this court, expressed in two unanimous decisions. The judgment of the court below is accordingly

Affirmed. MR. JUSTICE BREWER and MR. JUSTICE BROWN concurred in the judgment for reasons stated in the dissenting opinion in Hartranft v. Meyer, No. 860, post, 544.

WALKER V. SEEBERGER.

ERROR TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED

STATES FOR THE

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS.

No. 151. Argued April 11, 12, 1893. - Dccided May 15, 1893.

Trimmings of various styles and materials, some composed entirely of

silk, some chiefly of silk, some chiefly of metal, and some being a combination of both silk and metal, used exclusively or chiefly for hat or bonnet trimming, and not suitable, nor used to any appreciable extent for any other purpose, are dutiable under Schedule N, of the act of March 3, 1883, (22 Stat. 512,) at the rate of twenty per centum ad valorem and not under Schedule L at the rate of fifty per centum; as articles composed wholly of silk or of silk as their component material of chief value; or under Schedule C, at the rate of forty-five per centum, as arti

cles composed chiefly of metal. Whether the goods in question were trimmings used exclusively or chiefly

in the making and ornamentation of hats, bonnets or hoods was a question for the determination of the jury and it was error in the trial court to instruct otherwise.

The case is stated in the opinion.
Mr. A. H. Garland for plaintiff in error.

Mr. Percy L. Shuman and Mr. Henry E. Tremain also filed a brief for plaintiff in error.

Opinion of the Court.

Mr. Solicitor General for defendant in error.1

MR. JUSTICE SHIRAS delivered the opinion of the court.

This was an action brought by the firm of James H. Walker & Co., in the Circuit Court of the United States for the Northern District of Illinois, to recover from the collector of that district moneys which were alleged to have been paid in excess of the legitimate duties assessable on certain imported articles.

The history of the case, as we find it in the bill of exceptions, shows that the goods in question were trimmings of various styles and materials, some being composed entirely of silk, some chiefly of silk, and some chiefly of metal, and some being a combination of both silk and metal. The evidence further tended to show that all the said trimmings were used either exclusively or chiefly for hat or bonnet trimming, and in respect to all the merchandise the use was exclusively or chiefly for the making or ornamenting of hats, bonnets, and hoods, and that the goods were not suitable for and were not used to an appreciable extent for any other purpose. A considerable

. ' A portion of said goods were manufactured expressly for the plaintiffs, and upon their order, to be used, as the same were used, as trimmings in the making and ornamenting of hats, bonnets and hoods. The proof tended to show that most of the trimmings in question had more or less specific commercial names, which aided to distinguish one from another, and that “trimmings” was their general name, and not their specific one.

The importers claimed that these goods should have been assessed under Schedule N of the act of March 3, 1883, (22 Stat. 512,) at the rate of twenty per centum ad valorem. The collector assessed the duties under Schedule L, (22 Stat. 510,) at the rate of fifty per centum for the articles composed wholly or chiefly of silk, and under Schedule C at the rate of forty-five per centum for the articles composed chiefly of metal.

Opinion of the Court.

The court below charged the jury as follows: “The collector classed these goods as a manufacture of silk and assessed a duty of fifty per cent ad valorem upon them. The proof tends to show that the goods in question are composed of chenille and silk.

Now it makes no difference whether these goods are used only for hats and bonnets or not. If they are specially dutiable by name or commercial description in some other clause of the statute than clause 448, then the plaintiff has failed in his case.” And as to other articles the court said: “There are no samples of these goods produced, but the proof tended to show that they were used for making or ornamenting hats and bonnets. They were classed as a manufacture of silk, and if they were silk, as the proof on the part of the plaintiff tends to show, then they would be properly classed as silk goods, and not as bonnet material.”

As to various other articles in question, the court instructed the jury that if they were composed wholly or chiefly of silk they were dutiable at the rate of fifty per centum ad valorem, as manufactures of silk, notwithstanding that the evidence showed that they were used only for hats and bonnets.

Under these instructions, which were duly excepted to, the jury found, as to most of the articles, a verdict in favor of the collector, and, judgment having been entered accordingly the case is before us on a writ of error.

No extended discussion is required. We have just decided in the case of Cadwalader v. Wanamaker, ante, p. 532, in which the facts were substantially the same with those disclosed in the present record, that goods intended for trimmings for hats, bonnets, and hoods, and found by the jury to be chiefly so used, were properly assessed for duty, under Schedule N, at twenty per centum ad valorem, not withstanding that such goods were composed wholly or chiefly of silk. In so ruling we considered ourselves bound by our previous decisions. Ilartranft v. Langfeld, 125 U. S. 128; Robertson v. Edelhoff, 132 U. S. 614.

Under the law as there laid down, the case ought to have been submitted to the jury to find whether the goods in question were trimmings used wholly or chiefly in the making

Opinion of the Court.

and ornamentation of hats, bonnets, or hoods, and with instructions that, if they so found, their verdict should be given in favor of the plaintiff, notwithstanding it might appear that the articles were composed wholly or chiefly of silk. The judgment of the court below is accordingly reversed,

with directions to award a new trial.

MR. JUSTICE BREWER and MR. JUSTICE BROWN concurred in the judgment for reasons stated in the dissenting opinion in Hartranft v. Meyer, No. 860, post, 547.

HARTRANFT v. MEYER.

ERROR TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA.

No. 860. Argued April 11, 12, 1893. – Decided May 15, 1893.

Piece goods, commercially known and designated as “chinas” and “mar

celines,” which are chiefly used for lining hats and bonnets are dutiable at the rate of twenty per centum ad valorem under Schedule N of the tariff act of March 3, 1883, as materials “used for making . hats, bonnets, or hoods."

Mr. Solicitor General for plaintiff in error.1

Mr. Frank P. Prichard and Mr. Joseph H. Choate, (with whom were Mr. Henry E. Tremain and Mr. Mason W. Tyler on the brief,) for defendant in error.

MR. JUSTICE Shiras delivered the opinion of the court.

This was an action, brought by the firm of Meyer & Dickinson, in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia, against

Opinion of the Court.

the collector of customs for that district, to recover duties which they allege to have been illegally assessed against certain articles imported by them. The action was certified to and tried in the Circuit Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and resulted in a verdict and judgment in favor of the plaintiffs. The collector sued out a writ of error, which is now prosecuted in this court by his executrix.

The issues that were tried in the court below arose under the tariff act of March 3, 1883. 22 Stat. 510, 512, c. 121. The imported articles consisted of “chinas” and “marcelines,” the latter being made wholly of silk, and the former of silk and cotton, silk being the component material of chief value.

The position of the government was that such articles were dutiable under Schedule L of the act, at the rate of fifty per centum ad valorem, while the plaintiffs contended that they came under Schedule N, and were chargeable with duty at the rate of twenty per centum ad valorem.

The court below regarded the case as falling within the doctrine of Hartranft v. Langfeld, 125 U.S.128, and of Robertson v. Edelhoff, 132 U. S. 614, and accordingly referred it to the jury to find, under the evidence, whether the goods in question were trimmings, and what was their chief use.

A large number of witnesses were called on both sides. There was no dispute as to the composition of the goods, but there was conflicting evidence as to the extent of their use as hat trimmings. The testimony on behalf of the government tended to show that such goods were largely, and, according to some witnesses, chiefly used for purposes other than for hat and bonnet trimmings. The plaintiffs' witnesses testified that, while they were used to a limited extent for other purposes, their chief use was for trimming and lining hats and bonnets. A verdict was found and judgment entered in favor of the plantiffs.

If this case is not distinguishable in its facts from the cases above referred to, then a like conclusion must be reached as that announced in the case of Cadwalader v. Wanamaker, just decided, ante, p. 532, and for the same reasons, which we need not here repeat.

VOL. CXLIX-35