New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-12
THE HAT TRIMMINGS CASES AGAIN.
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INVOLVED THE MATTER
BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT FOR
THE FOI HTU TINE.

Washington, April 1l.-Whnt are known as the
hat-trmmngs cases" engaging the attention Of
the Supreme Court TO-DAY upon oral argument by
counsel These arise ont OF the controversy between
the customs officers and the importers as 10 the rate
Of duty be imposed upon articles under the
rms OF the Tann act Of 1888 The contention Of the
customs officials IS that they duriabc mann
features OF silk. Of which silk Is the chief
ponent. at 80 per cent ad valorcm the importers
claim that the duty should b~ az the rate OF 20 per
cent ad valOrem hat trimmings. The matter. In
one form or another, has been before the supreme
Court three times md been decided in the Zimmerman
case, the Langfeld case and the Edelhon cn>e. The
latter having been decided January g. 1870. The
decisions were against the Government. and ~ inter
walls since then the Treasury Department has paid
funds Of duties under the ruling OF the court
Tho amount OF money necessary TO discharge all
claims YET 10 be filed under the cases omcd has
been estimated from 81 800 900 TO 100000 900
and The officials have been anxious stop the drain
II possible In President IInrrison's Administration
secretary Foster issued circular september -
1891. ordering the payment Of refunds upon
basis-the question Of the chief use Of contested
ariclcs-to De- passed upon by tho Local appraisers
and no rcuEdnG of dulles 10 take place unless the
claimants Discontinued suit ON Januaiy u. 1885,
another circular issued lev secretary Foster au-
ihorizng collectors of customs 10 mike refunds on
certain articles wthou, the Intervention Of the ap-
praiScrs or any one else 10 the Of the articles
In question. Payments under TIL, circular were nj
suspended by order Of President Harrison. and
March .. 1893. the circular recalled 10y the
Presidents order.
After the Edelhod case had been decided other It'll
cations on The suffice; cnsucd and the argument
bcgun Oday Involves thrc" cases. two appealed from
the Circuit Court for the Eastern District Of Illinois
zone Of the parties being John Wananakerj. and tn
third from the Circuit Court for The Northern Dis
rict Of Illinois. solicitor 'iencrnl Adrch SAYS that
neither the Zimmerman. Lanefed nor Edclhon case.
nor all 81 them together cover the points raised In
the pending Causes. They arc be state: o. Ar"
SILK goods dutiabe nj all ne hat materials CO. Do
the words "GOOds. wares and m"rC handisc made Of
SILK In the act Of 1893 lncndr fewer articles than
they did In the act Of Io'j Trc contention "f
counsel for the importers /, that the questions
raised were Ctictily disposed Of Iy the court In
the named. In the courts below the import
crs successful at Philadelphia. at Chicago the
verdict for the Government In part and for the
importers In part. The consideration Of the case
involves practically reversal affirmation 81 the
decision Of the Supreme Court In the FdchOf case.
The court adjourned until Ia morrow. The day
call will be Nos. ~ land vi aud 500, .O1. 20.
Gil, 2l2. 1913. 2lJ land go. .lj land "lG) III
aud