New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-20
GEM RUSE SAID
TO HIT DEALERS
Dismantling Jewelry to
Save Duty Unfair, Says
Ludwig Nissen.
LEADS AMERICANS
TO BUY ABROAD
Attorney for Heitmeyer and Mrs.
Alexander Sees U. S. Attorney
They'll Appear on Demand.

Charles t.. Heydt, attorney Tor ROBERT
T. Heitmeyer and Mrs. r. NJ. Alexander
who have been charged before the fed
eral grand jury with attempting TO
smuggle into the country pendant
valued at 500. conferred with a member
OF United States Attorney Marshalrs
staff Yesterday after the facts in the
case were made public by The Tribune.
Mr.. IIeydt said later he thought his
clients would be asked II appear at the
Federal Building early next week and
that he would guarantee their appearance
when wanted.
THE case Involves only small piece
Of jewelry. which was not taken Off the
pier" said Mr.. FIeydt Mr.. Heitmeyer
had nothing whatever 10 do with the
payment of duty or the Idyalliere which
he bought for Mrs. Alexander, at Tif-
fanys. in Paris. a year ago and Whlch
was delivered to him in this city. Moth
ing was said about duty at the time he
selected the piece. and he paid the bill
i'm this city without even knowing what
the duty amounted to-
- ne idNtiltl', NdluFI dbl pdh a. Tif'''f
was dismantled and imported by TIFFANY
a co.. thereby reducing 10 10 per cent
the ~ per cent duty II would have been
subject TO had Il come over intact II
was this operation which interested the
United States Attorneys office In the
Ileitmeyer case While the courts have
held in similar cases that there is MOTH
Ing i'm the law To prevent this practice
customs officials and jewellers expressed
the opinion yesterday that the case pre-
sented enough unusual features to serve
as basis for investigating this method
Of saving money. 4 high customs Officer
said
This question has gone TO the courts
several times. proving that there Is DOUBT
as TO It's legality. In my opinion IT Is
q subterfuge and as such ought 10 be
stopped. II way can be found
Ludwig Nissen. president of the Ameri-
can Jewellers Protective Association,
said he believed the Jaw to-day DID not
take into consideration the previous con-
dition Of gems Drought into the country.
The dlsmantlng OF jeweiry 10 reduce the
duty on II was largely practised BY reial
houses with branches abroad and by prl-
waite individuals. he declared.
This practice does a serious injury 10
the iewelry trade In this country, said
Mr.. Nissen. in that il tends TO induce
Americans TO buy thdr jewelry abroad
and discrimnates against the dealers VINO
paw FUN duty on their !mportations OF
set gems. The reason for the high tarIn
on set jewelry Is 10 protect the manu-
facturers OF this country
Under the present law II viii be hard
10 put a stop 10 the practice. IN TIE opih-
ion OF several authorities on customs leg
isIation. John X. Maxwell. OF the hrm oi
Curic. Smith a Maxwell. quoted the de-
clsiou Of the Supreme Court OF tho JhIt'I
States In the case 81 tho pearl necklace
bought abroad 10y Mrs. william u. Locus
referred 10 IN The Tribune !eSte'd"y
Morning lie saw 40 reason why IL
should not apply TO the present situation.
Tin. decision Of tie Supreme court
quoted a case I'm which TIFFANY y co. I'M
ported Arty-niuc pearls In four p"eNa9eS'
ali loose end al drilled for sTihs'He'
Th,v had been chosen BY VI. Huse"H-
holm, a, the concerns Paris establishment
f,r his wife. and a sketch had been maHc
,o show how the necklace would look
when assembled. l, was not Shown th"'
,h.,. we're worn. but" said the court
they probably Were Temporarily s"o"N
in the Paris establishment one or nor
times 10 show how the strins OF pears
would appear a. necklace
The Supreme Court denied the "sht OF
,b. coyerpment TO collect the higher duty
for set gems in this case. Other case
bav. been decided In like manner among
,ben one involving what was lncon'esta-
,,,,. ,,.o ne,rI necklaces. valued at $3.50"
and imported n loose gems pS N'''s
heimer 4 co.