Court Opinion

ID: 9303939
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-12-02 17:14:59.262357+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:13:48.509840
License: Public Domain

THOMPSON, District Judge.
The questions presented here "Were ruled upon by this court in Rheinstrom et al. v. United States. The ruling was inaccurately reported in 118 Red. 303, and it is therefore repeated here in full as delivered, as follows:
“The taxable subject is fruit preserved in spirits; the fruit and the spirits together constitute the taxable subject. If the spirits contain but 10-*989per cent, or less of alcohol, the rates of duty to be levied on the fruit so preserved are 1 cent per pound and 35 per cent, of its market value ‘in the principal markets of the country from whence imported.’ But if the spirits contain over 10 per cent, of alcohol, the rates of duty to be levied on the fruit so preserved are 35 per cent, of its market value in said markets, and $2.50 per proof gallon of alcohol in excess of 10 per cent., whether absorbed by the fruit or supernatant. In the first ciiso the duties rest on the alcohol only in so far as it contributes to the weight and value of the fruit, but in the second case, in addition to the duty on the value of the fruit and spirits, including 10 per cent, of the alcohol, an additional specific duty is laid of $2.50 per gallon on the excess of alcohol over the JO per cent.; and there is no suggestion in the language of the statute that in determining the amount of the excess the alcohol absorbed by the cherries should be eliminated from the computation.”
Since then the Circuit Court of Appeals of the Second Circuit, in La Manna, etc., v. United States, 144 Fed. 683, 75 C. C. A. 485, has held that under the reciprocal commercial agreements with other countries, contemplated by section 3 of the tariff act of July 24, 1897, c. 11, 30 Stat. 203 (U. S. Comp. St 1901, p. 1690), alcohol in which cherries ,are imported is within the classification of said act which provides that “brandies or other spirits manufactured or distilled from grain or other materials” shall pay a duty of $1.75 per proof gallon instead of $2.50 per proof gallon, as provided in paragraph 263, c. 11, Schedule G, 30 Stat. 171 (U. S. Comp. St. 1901, p. 1651); and the government having acquiesced in this holding this court will follow it as applicable under the treaty or agreement with Germany. July 13, 1900, 31 Stat. 1978.
The protests are affirmed, and the decisions of the Board of General Appraisers and the surveyor are overruled.