The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-06-15
ALL ABOUT 4 SEMI COLON


The importance OF n knowledge OF cor
rect punctuation has received new
Illustration. in the United States Circuit
Court at New York. where three days
have been taken up in u discussion con-
corning the significance Of a semi-colon.
The semi-colon in question occurs in
paragraph 467 Of the Wilson tariff bill
This paragraph Is part OF the free lst,
and reads MS follows:
Diamonds miners. glaciers. and eneravers
diamonds not set, and diamond dust or bort
and jewels 90 be used In the manufacture OF
watches and clocks
IL WAS supposed by importing jewelers.
that the meaning Of this paragraph was
that diamonds were admissible free OF
duty. A New York firm imported dia-
monds cut but not set, and the collector
Of the port assessed them for duty OF
twenty-five per cent, under paragraph
1913 Of the act, which says that precious
stones cut but not set shall be assessed
twenty-five per cent
The general board OF appraisers we're
appealed to and took issue with the
decision OF the collector, holding that
paragraph 467 made diamonds free.
The government officials carried the
matter into the Circuit court. Judge
Townsend's opinion is clearly reasoned
and convincing. It's argument il OF in
terest 10 people concerned about pune
tuntion as well rs 10 those concerned
about diamonds:
IL IL admitted that the articles are diamonds
cut but not set" and that they ARE precious
stones" The position OF the word diamonds"
ut the head OF paragraph i07 In the free list.
printed IN the same type as the rest OF the para
graph and followed by a semi-colon, OF itself
raises presumption that Congress thereby
intended 10 place all diamonds upon the FREE
list. The rest OF the said paragraph and the
Language OF paragraph 33s iorcibly suggest a
contrary intention.
Judge Townsend then reviews the
whole law and shows that il had been
the habit OF those framing the net to
start with n sort oil subhead mt the
beginning OF every paragraphs, that being
for the purpose OF calling attention TO
the kind OF goods that followed aud for
no other reason. He also holds that
diamonds are otherwise provided for in
the act and therefore are not included in
the free list. He says
The phrase "precious stones of all kinds, cut,
but not set +" not only concededIy covers dia-
monds. but Is a specific provision. aud that the
only provision, for cut diamonds. And. finally,
II the word diamond In paragraph ACT was'any.
thing more than a snbheadine there would have
been no necessity OF adding thereafter. In the
same paragraph the different kinds OF diamonds,
sreh :r.:;e-='. Eiazssfs' an,i cngrnvers aha.
monds. No sufficient reason has been suggested
why, II all the diamonds were 20 be free. Con-
gress should have especially provided for
miners. engrayers and glaciers diamonds.
cut. but not set therefore am OF the opinion
that Congress did not intend by the net OF
August ~. 1894, to admit diamonds free OF
duty. but that consideration OF the general
plan and arrangement OF said net aud com
parison OF the foregoing provisions show plain
intent to impose n duty OF twenty Ave per cent.
on diamonds cut but not set.
II the point placed after the word dia-
monds had beech colon instead OF u
semi-eoIon, IL would not have been so
liable TO mislead. The compositors in
the government printing Office should
include pointers AS well MS setters.--
Evening Wisconsin.