New-York tribune., 1875-11-30
FOREIGN MARKET VALUE OF IMPORTS.
~ ,,,popr,xr pryENUF SUIT AFFECTING THE

AN INIPORTANT REVENUE SUIT AFFECTING IHH
LINEN TRADE
The trial of the case OF the united states
against the York street Flax Spinning Company was De-
Gun Yesterday in the United states District Court before
Judge Blatchiord and Jury. This company manuiac-
lures beaches, and deals IN linen goods at Belfast e-
land and have branch house at No. l5l ChurcsL, III
this city, the agents being Fawceit st. CAR. Ihs
books of this branch seized by the Govern
ment in December 1873 and after this action was
begun under Section OF the Act OF March 3, 1863, TO
recover 100000 in gold, for alleged ulhlet'dt-
uatlons on invoices Of linen goods. TheSe IN
voices cover n period Of lS months pcginhing via
December, 1872. The law requires all invoices 70 10
made out at the foreign market value OF the goods This
case therefore turns on what meant by the words
foreign market value" which il is said on account of
the peclar nature OF the linen trade, becomes IN this
case icult question. The linen trade OF Belfast s II
is stated one of great detail II IS also claimed thht he
product Of the Belfast linen manufacturers Is the 3Shch
poweroom brown linen, and that on is value the price
of all other linen goods is based II is said moreover
that each manufacturer finishes his goods 20 sun his
own trade and fixes his prices accordingly always
taking care TO keep them strictly secret but that manu-
cturers sell goods each other the price being based on
the value OF the 3sinch poweroom linen. with the all.
don OF the regular charges for bleaching and finishing
and that the value thus obtained is recognized IN Belfast
a, the actual market value of the goods
MoSt OF the Belfast linen manufacturers have branch
houses in this city, and the company defendant CLAIMS
that il /, the custom for these manufacturers % make
special prices for this market and that these prices 20
some extent cover the cost Of sustaining these New
York branch houses Therefore. il is argued, when
Amer.an merchant buys linen in the Belfast market, he
pays more than the ruling rate TO local buyers and 10
buyers from other countries the additional price charged
b being to cover the expense Of sustaining the branch
house. The company also claims that it has always m
voiced It's goods the branch house here at value based
on te actual market value Belfast for sale. made in
the ordinary course of trade and that The prices 10
lar American buyers do not materially Affect the Belfast
market value, because the sales made 20 AmeuCiu
exceptional in thcr nature ana because tIe
American market takes only small portion OF the Bel
THO Government claims that sales 10 Eew-Yoyk mor-
chants have been made at higher prices thah tLo,c
forth in the invoices of goods sent by the YORK street
IlHX-S nng Company 10 tie branch house IA ths ci'
and tia, such prices conclusive 10 market value
she purpose Of liking the duty on the goods IlS
sd the opinions OF manufacturers ana Their agents
here and the opinions OF local American merchants have
always been at variance II - s'ateo tnt most O' mo
NcWYOUh representatives. Of Belfast manufacturers have
had Guilty this point Win CuStO nOise ahtApFl
ties, aud that many OF these Idciurets, cohse,
utntly have abandoned their connections and changed
their OF invoicing to avoid trouble ana expense
The of June D. 1874, says that IN cases pending AZ
the time the act passed tue question Of nunt sAa
be submitted 10 the jury, ANA IN tnS case ruling VIII
probably be- Made 10 whether, under tAat act. tie
passed is within its provisions. should me
Court rule that is, the decision Will affect other import
ant iit geTSOadhl cases pending.
Tbe Session of the court yesterday was occupied in
identifying invoices ana other documents relating 10 fho
goods in question, for the purpose OF putting trn In
evidence Tie counsel In the are for the Govern
ment. Assistant United States D,trictAttOmeys Ire
main aud smith; for the defendants, William NJ Eyafts,
) B. Eaton, and L. H. owen.