United States v. S. H. Kress & Co.

Worley, Chief Judge, delivered the opinion of the court: This is an appeal from the judgment of the United States Customs Court, First Division, C.D. 2037, sustaining the importer’s protest and holding the instant importations classifiable under paragraph 1503 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as beads, not specially provided for, rather than as articles wholly or in chief value of beads, under the same paragraph. [136] The pertinent provisions of paragraph 1503, as modified by T.D, 51802, supplemented by T.D. 51893, read: Beads, including bugles, not specially provided for_17%% ad vaL Fabrics and articles not ornamented with beads, spangles, or bugles, nor embroidered, tamboured, appliqued, or scalloped, composed wholly or in chief value of beads or spangles (other than imitation pearl beads, beads in imitation of precious or semi-precious stones, and beads in chief value of synthetic resin)_37%% ad val. Paragraph 1503 also contains the following proviso which we think has a particular bearing on the facts here: Provided, that the rates on spangles and heads provided in this paragraph shall be applicable whether such spangles and heads are strung or loose, mounted or unmounted * * *.2 The merchandise, labelled “String of Beads for Christmas Decorating,” consists of beads of different sizes and colors on strings 9 to 10 feet in length. It is agreed to be the same in all material respects as that before us in United States v. S. H. Kress & Co., 44 CCPA 141, C.A.D. 651, where it was stipulated that the merchandise was used in its imported condition exclusively as Christmas decorations. There it was held, one judge dissenting, that the merchandise was dedicated to that single use and should be classified as articles “wholly or in chief value of beads,” rather than as “beads.” Here there is no such stipulation. On the contrary, the importer called two witnesses to show that the beads were used for purposes other than Christmas decorations. The Customs Court held that testimony, coupled with certain exhibits showing other uses, was sufficient to support, at least prima facie, the importer’s contentions and sustained its protest, holding the first Kress case inapplicable to the new record made here. In so holding, the court said: That beads may be strung or mounted and still be beads in a tariff sense, is well settled. Theo. L. Stern & Co. (Inc.) v. United States, 20 C.C.P.A. (Customs) 423, T.D. 46260. Moreover, paragraph 1503 of tbe Tariff Act of 1930, as originally enacted, embodies a pro viso that was not included in predecessor paragraphs in earlier tariff acts and which reads as follows: * * * Provided, that the rates on spangles and beads provided in this paragraph shall be applicable whether such spangles and beads are strung or loose, mounted or unmounted: * * * In the first part of its brief here the Government contends that The articles, as imported, are complete and designed and chiefly used for a particular purpose, to wit, as Christmas tree ornaments.2 It concludes with the following: Since the evidence established that the merchandise consists of specific finished articles, it follows that such articles be classified according to their condition as imported rather thorn, according to the use made of some of them. [Citing Leonard Levin Co. v. United States, 27 CCPA 101, C.A.D. 69.] [137] It is, of course, our duty to interpret the statutes to reflect Congressional intent. When a statute is ambiguous, vague, or uncertain it is proper to employ established judicial aids of construction to ascertain what Congress intended. With respect to the “use” question here, we think what was said in M. Pressner & Co. v. United States, 42 CCPA 48, C.A.D. 568, is applicable: A “use” provision ordinarily prevails over an eo nomine designation. United States v. Snows United States Sample Express Co., 8 Ct. Cust. Appls. 351, T.D. 37611. The exception to this rule is the presence of a olear congressional intent to the contrary. United States v. Pfaltz & Bauer (Inc.) et al., 16 Ct. Cust. Appls. 358, T.D. 43091; United States v. John H. Faunce (Inc.) et al., 21 C.C.P.A. (Customs) 80, T.D. 46395; Morilla Co., Inc. v. United States, 27 Cust. Ct. 210, C.D. 1372. * * *2 We think this is one of the exceptions referred to because of the express language in the proviso that “the rates on * * * deads provided in this paragraph shall be applicable whether such * * * beads are stnmg or loose, * * *”2 The Customs Court also relied on certain data prepared for the House Committee on Ways and Means in support of its conclusion as to congressional intent. There is nothing vague or ambiguous about the language in the above proviso. No one argues that, in their condition as imported, the beads are anything else but beads, or that they are not strung on a string. If, therefore, they do not come within the congressional designation of “beads,” “strung,” it would be hard to visualize just what Congress had in mind and what merchandise could qualify under that language. In the face of such clear language, resort to judicial aids of construction leading to a conflicting result, would be to ignore what Congress has said, and to substitute our own views for those of that body. There would be no further need of the proviso referred to. The decision is afjwmed. Smith, J., and JOHNSON, J., Eetired, not present at the argument, were called in to participate in the decision pursuant to stipulation of counsel. Footnotes [2] Emphasis ours.