Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-27
y s COURT or CUSTOMS
APPEALS In SESSION

that the pulp hal been cooked in its own
juices, but the importers said this did
not constitute preserving.
''All the testimony agrees. said the
court in its decision, that fruits are pre-
served for future consumption by COOK
ing the raw material in its own juices,
or in water and sugar, 4r in water alone;
and on this finding Of fact the court de-
creed that strawberry and apricot pulp
must pay duty hereafter as preserved
fruit.
Preserved vegetables cause many con-
tr0Yersies between importers and Gus
toms officers. Salt when used simply
to keep food products in good condition
until they can be treated for permanent
preservation. is not usually classed as
preservetive. Former decisions have
held that caulifiower, .maraschino cher
ries. caviar and other products kept in
salt or brine during transportation to the
United States were not actually pre-
served by the salt.
Imagine the surprise of one of the
Chinese importers, therefore, when he
went to the dock to greet consignment
Of dearly loved Chinese cabbage, to find
it held up for duty as a pickle The
cabbage grew in certain parts of China,
any FAR excels any of its American pro-
totypes. in the oriental mind.
sailed. cut up and rolled into balls. The
Chinese witnesses said it was not pre-
served as it had to be cooked and pre-
pared after 1t reached the United States.
The customs officials insisted on their
point. and the case and the cabbage final
ly landed at Washington.
The customs court smelled and tasted
the cabbage. and decided that while the
salt might be put on only as a temporary
preservative, it greatly improved the
flavor of the cabbage and therefore en-
HANGED its value as an article of food.
In the CaulifioWer, maraschino cherries
and other like things, the court said, this
had not been true. So the Chinese cab
bage remains pickle in the eyes of the
tariff law, and must pay duty of one
cent per pound, with an additional duty
of 80 per cent Of its value.
Chinese embroidered shoes have caused
another controversy. Are they boots and
Shoes or embroidered wearing apparel?
The customs court had to decide the
case, after Lai Ming. Sun Kwong On and
several other Cinnamon refused to pay
duty for embroidered articles. The
shoes, If classed as boots and shoes of
cent duty. while as articles of embroid-
cred wearing apparel, they would have to
pay 60 per cent of their value.
4
1t was admitted that the shoes were
actually made of leather; but in the eyes
of the appraisers at the port their rich
ornamentation lifted them out Of the
realm Of plebeian footwear and made them
works of art in the wearing-apparel line.
The customs court upheld this decision,
and the orientals are compelled to pay
the 60 per cent duty.
American tabasco sauce. exported from
New Orleans to England and brought
back in fancy bottles. has been refused
free admittance by the customs officers,
and the case is now before the court OF
appeals The appraisers declare that while
it was in England the tabasco sauce was
advanced in value" by being placed in
fancy bottles with sprinkler tops. Had it
come back in the original state they