The Washington times., 1908-05-08
CONSIDER THE EGG,
LIVE STOCK OR NOT
Treasury Assesses SIS on
Two Dozen TO Avoid
Discrimination.


II il is bought for the purpose OF
Matching, is II livestock for breeding
purpOses2
4 man in Sioux City has the Depart
ment Of the Treasury worrying about
these ard sundry collateral questions
Just now he is G. F. Statter, and he
has put I'D some very hard ones 70 the
department
Being something Of a poultry fancier.
AIr. starter sent TO England Tor a c0u-
pie dozen eggs Of the Black Orpington.
an especially aristocratic general pur-
nose" hen-that Is, a hen that can lay
an egg or tUo every day. and a. TIE
same time be eaten for dinner with
satisfaction anl comfort
The cheerful joker who billed the
eggs out Of England. and who didn't
know anything about the tariff. because
they don't maintain such an institution
IN England. valued them al Sils- When
they got 10 the custom house at Sioux
city, duties Of IS were assessed against
thsu. Mr.. Statter talked some about
the tariff. and finally decided 20 pay
But he did ii under protest, and had
his case appealed 20 the department
Reasons From Frogs Legs
Mr. statte- had heard Of The famous
ruling Of Secretary shaw that frogs are
poultry for the purposes 81 tariff. which
seemed 70 have overlooked frogs legs
in making the schedule Coming this
IN his mind, he agured that eggs we're
livestock: potentially. at least. II a
frog is a chicken. why isn't an egg q
hen? II looked good 10 the Sioux City
man.
He had his petition for refund Of the
duty presented with this as its basis.
Under the law. registered livestock i'm
ported for breeding purposes is entitled
to come free. on proper showing
and registry Of pedigree The theory Is
that its worth while TO Z: good stock
come in 10 improve the home stock
Mr.. Statter intended to set those eggs
and thereby do something FOR the uplift
OF the American aen. Consequently
they ought 10 come il. free.
That locked pretty good; but Mr. stat
ter turned 10 the diamond schedule and
found what he regarded as a more con
elusive demonstration that an egg is
livestock He found that an uncut ,iis-
mond, destined 70 be cut in this coun-
try. is regarded as raw material and 70
be admitted free. waIle 8 finished dIa-
mOnd Is SUBJECT 70 q hleis duty
Finds Parallel Case.
Could anything be simpler Raw ma
terial for shirt-studs is 70 De admitted
free. so that American workingnen can
have the work Of making II up into the
finished product Why, then, should not
raw material for chickens be admitted
free. SO that the American biddy ma
have the work of Matching Il?
The department, by some process Of
ratiocination which Mr.. Statter has p0t
vet figured out, decided against him
and he finds that he has been touched
for the S25, beyond all hope of recovery
His understanding Is that the depar1-
ment reasoned thus:
Hens lay eggs, ROSTERS don't Ro,,st-
ers are only useful TO eat and crow The
admission OF eggs free OF dutv for
hA.ching would be. IN fact a iiscriuins-
tior in favor Of the hen as against the
rooster, because rOOsters don't set AS
approximately half the poultry Dop1is-
ton is composed of ROSTERS. il would
be a manifest discrimination agsInsf
this half 10 permit a special favor to
the hens Therefore on the ground that
II would be class discrimination the hens
can't get free eggs
Report comes from Iowa tnat Mr.
Statter is looking farther into the mat
ter with a view 10 reopeninS the Csc.
at the hands Of its friends