Case Name: LEHN et al. v. UNITED STATES
Court: United States Circuit Court for the Southern District of New York
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1895-02-01
Citations: 66 F. 748
Docket Number: No. 2,031
Parties: LEHN et al. v. UNITED STATES.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Reporter
Volume: 66
Pages: 748–748

Head Matter:
LEHN et al. v. UNITED STATES.
(Circuit Court, S. D. New York.
February 1, 1895.)
No. 2,031.
Customs Duties — Classification—Hydrochlorate of Cocaine.
Muriate or hydrochlorate of cocaine, which is covered, for tariff purposes, both by paragraph 76 and paragraph 74 of Act Oct. 1,1890, is dutiable under the former, relating to chemical salts, which is more specific than paragraph 74, providing for medicinal preparations. Mallinckrodt Chemical Works Case, 66 Fed. 746, followed.
Appeal by Lehn & Fink, importers, from a decision of the board of general appraisers affirming the action of the collector in assessing duty upon certain muriate or hydrochlorate of cocaine under paragraph 76 of the tariff act of 1890. The importers insisted that it should have been assessed under paragraph 74 of the same act.
Comstock & Brown (Albert Comstock, of counsel), for importers.
James T. Van Rensselaer, Asst. U. S. Atty., for collector.

Opinion:
COXE, District Judge
(orally). I am inclined to think that this case is ruled by the Mallinckrodt Chemical Works Case (decided in the St. Louis circuit) 66 Fed. 746. That case, as I understand it, involved the precise substance that is in controversy here. Where a court has decided the identical question, another court of concurrent jurisdiction should follow it. It is conceded that both of the paragraphs in question cover this particular importation, that is, it is a chemical salt and also a medicinal preparation. The circuit court in the Mallinckrodt Case held that paragraph 76, which provides for chemical salts, is more specific that paragraph 74, which provides for medicinal preparations. It is not necessary for me to express my views upon the subject, for the reason that, in the circumstances, this court should follow that decision. ' The decision of the board of general appraisers is affirmed.