New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-10
PEARL BUTTON DECISION.
IN FAVOR OF A GREAT INDUSTRY.
GENERAL APPRAISERS DECIDE THAT SHARP
PRACTICE MUST BE STOPPED.

GENERAL APPRAISERS DECIDE THAT A SHARP
PRACTICE MUST BE STOPPED.
General Appraiser sharretts made yesterday de-
cison in which his colleagues concurred, which saves
TO the American workmen the pearlbuttOn industry
The decision was the outgrowth OF an effort on u'e
part of the importers to evade the provisions o |o
tariff law and 30 import pearl buttons WHICH WIZ
ready for with the exception OF the work on Pu.'
ing eyehoes or inserting the steel eyelet' Anis
work, of course entered little into the real cost anu
value of the button. The importers held tnSo Vn'
buttons "unpierced and unslanked' were s,inpH
m0therof pearl manufactures and as sach siouto P'
O duty Of 40 per cent adj valorem' On thS a"'0"i'V
o new trade name for them was colncd' IL was
"button blanks"
The case on which the decision OF yesterday was
banded down arose on the appeal Of Strauss, saoiS
d. Co. to the Board of Appraisers against aorsio
OF Collector Erilardt. Tie goods were receiver VA
the steamship Elder on February IL, 1901. Inc Ap-
praisers have taken largo amount Of testimony ana
the decision which has been reached sostans tfe
10 Couector Appraiser sharretts's nnding is IN part
: a. follows:
The goods lii question small highly polished pieces
Of pearl plain ia the back with grcova rings
or followed out in 'front.' with reHded edges ana VIVA
small cavity the centre through which one OF more
holes are 10 be pierced Except that they are not pefced
nor shanked articles exactly correspond In appearance
with the ordinary supernne pearl buttons OF commerce.
The merchandise was returned for outy oJ tne appraiser
as
IN eou,peted state except the drilling OF the holes
The character Of this merchandise is clearly
teaned notwithstanding absence OF this one element
shIch omitted for the purpose, with tne intention Oh
,xsdine the payment OF tho correct rate OF duty.
herA ia abundant evidence documentary and otherwise
q show that goods similar to those under consideration
have boon commercially known among manufacturers In
ibis country a. buttons. Some OF the most reputable
domestic pearl button makers fortified that they cat
fied large stocks Of buttons TO be pierced or
snked 81 the trade ordered" and that had been their
practice years to inventory goods similar to these as
40 many gross Of buttons 1t also been shown thai
these articles been designated by the importers as out
tons in arrang cments for future business
At the hearing OF this exhibits were made OF art
cles Of wearing apparel ornsmened with mo1he'oEpefr
buttons like question, without sharks or holes
In them Tallors dealing in buttons tesuned that these
articles are known 10 them buttons and are fastened to
tho garment by cement
II win be seen from this standard (Spon's Encyclo
paeda) that kno. or ball or other special form Vi
fashioned by skilled labor Is. in fact the
btor and that shaning piercing the button is simply
an ariary process be performed at The option Of the
purchaser.
From the testimony taken and authorities cited we find
the following facts
M That the articles are small round masses Of mother
ofpea or SHE'LL which have reached such stage Of man.
uacurs that they unsuitable for use except as pu
tons.
n, That the articles are neither shanked nor pierced
Int technically and among manufactures they ore known
Is buttons.
81 We further regarding the importers claim that
goods button blanks dusabe only as
of pear articles known as pearl button
blank. are rough they sawed out OF the she'll
we are Of opinion that the articles are buttons
within tho meaning Of the law. Admitting that the ques-
ton is one Of doubt the doubt Is insufficient 70 JUSTIFY
reversal Of the decision OF the Collector ana his acon
hereby affirmed
The Tribune has frequently detailed the interests
which we're at stake IN this decision 1t was clear
case of an attempt to the Tariff law, and import
1t wh
degree Of completion. as an entirely dlerent artcIe
and under low rating.