Evening star., 1939-09-12
Judge De vries Dies;
Headed j. ). Court
Of Customs Appeals
Originated PIon to
Divide Appraisal Boord
Into Three Groups

Judge Marion De Vries, "a, for
mer presiding judge of the United
States Court of Customs Appeals,
died last night on his ranch near
Lodi, Calf. He was in i'll health
when he left Washington several
months ago for his California home.
He died on the family ranch which
has father pioneered during the 49
California rush.
He was born in San Joaquin
County August Is, 1865, the son OF
William Henry and Cornelia Grove
De Vries. He received his early
training in local schools and re-
ceived a Phi. B. degree in 1886 from
San Joaquin Valley College. In
1883 he received an LII. B. degree
from the University of Michigan.
In 1887 he was admitted to the
Michigan and California bars and
10 years later was admitted to prac-
tice before the Supreme Court OF
the United States.
In recent years Judge De Vries
had devoted his time to law >prac-
tice here and was considered an
expert on customs tariffs. For
many years he represented Cali
fornia wine and grape interests.
He was married February %,
1892, to Mary L. Snead of Dixon,
Calf, who died in 1927. Surviving
him are a brother, William G. De
Vries, Lodi, Calf, and a nephew,
William Henry De Vries.
Elected to House In 1897.
Judge De VrieS practiced law In
Stockton and in 1893 was made as
sistant district attorney of San
Joaquin County In 1897 he was
elected to the Fifty-fifth Congress
from the second California district.
He resigned from the Fifty-sixth
Congress to become a member Of
the Board Of United States General
Appraisers, now the United States
Customs Court, in New York. In
1906 he was made president of the
board. In 1910 he came to WASH
ington on being named associate
judge of the United States Court
OF Customs Appeals. In 1921 he
was named presiding judge and on
November l, 1922, he resigned to
resume law practice.
He originated the plan Of di-
vidng the appraisal board into
three boards of three members each.
This system was later enacted into
law. The new organization was en-
abled through the triple capacity
to dispose of an accumulation of
more than 100000 protests and
bring the work up to date. He also
established a budget system for the
board.
Aided Clerical Efficiency.
While he was president of the
board he filled no vacancies caused
by death or resignation, but appor-
toned the money thus saved to the
remaining clerks. This was cred
tied with bringing greater efficiency.
In February, 1921, he drafted the
flexible and American valuation
provisions which later, in principle,
were adopted in the Tariff Act of
1922.
| He was the author of the Gray
Book" a digest of United States
and leading foreign laws on tariff
valuation, together with their his
tory and the legal authorities on
the subject. This was printed in
1921 by the Ways and Means Com
mittee of the House.
He also was instrumental in
drafting provisions of the present
act for discriminatory duties. and
authorizing American manufactur-
ers and producers to appear and
contest rates of duty and construc-
tions of tariff laws.
Consulted on Much LEGISLATION,
Because of his long experience
with customs tariffs and duties q
number of times he was called to
Capitol Hill to give aid in formu-
lating proposed legislation.
A Democrat, he was a member of
the Engineers Club of New York,
the Yosemite Club of Stockton and
the Mokelumne Club of Lodi.
While here Judge De Vries made
his home at Stoneleigh Court and
maintained offices there. A short
while before leaving for California
he moved his Offices to the National
Press Building.
Funeral arrangements have not
been completed, according to word
received here last night.