Arthur v. Stephant/Opinion of the Court

The first section of the act of June 30, 1864, imposes 'on all confectionery not otherwise provided for, made wholly or in part of sugar, valued at thirty cents per pound or less, a duty of fifteen cents per pound; on all confectionery valued above thirty cents per pound, or when sold by the box, package, or otherwise than by the pound, fifty per cent ad valorem.' 13 Stat. 202.

The act of June 6, 1872, imposes a duty of five cents per pound 'on chocolate.' 17 id. 231.

The article in question was chocolate simply, but presented in a form in which it was ordinarily sold as confectionery. Was it dutiable as confectionery, or as chocolate?

The case differs from those already decided, in this, that the last act expressing the legislative will is that which imposes the lower rate of duty. It is like the others, in this, that it presents the question whether the articles are dutiable under general terms which may embrace them, or under that specific language which can be applied to nothing else. That the latter is the rule by which the duty is fixed is too well settled to require argument. Reiche v. Smythe, 13 Wall. 162; Homer v. The Collector, 1 id. 486; Movius v. Arthur, 95 U.S. 144.

Should it be admitted, therefore, that chocolate is composed in part of the same substances that enter into the composition of ordinary confectionery, it must, nevertheless, stand upon the customs list as the distinct article so often described in the acts of Congress by its specific name.

As early as 1792, chocolate, eo nomine, was subjected to a duty of three cents per pound. 1 Stat. 259.

In 1816, the same duty was again imposed upon it. 3 id. 311.

In 1824, a duty of four cents per pound was imposed upon it by name. 4 id. 28.

In the Revised Statutes, it is subject to a duty of five cents per pound. Rev. Stat. p. 478.

Contemporaneously and side by side, all the way down, the statutes provide for different rates of duty on the varieties of sugar and on confectionery, as well as on chocolate. Confectionery and chocolate are uniformly recognized as being different articles for the purpose of duties.

In the first paragraph of sect. 8 of the tariff act of 1842 (5 Stat. 558), sugar of various kinds, comfits, sweetmeats, and confectionery are subject to a duty of twenty-five per cent ad valorem; in the second paragraph of the same section, a duty four cents per pound is imposed upon 'chocolate.'

In the tariff act of 1846 (9 id. 44), 'comfits and sweetmeats' are dutiable at forty per cent; 'confectionery' of all kinds, at thirty per cent; and 'chocolate,' at twenty per cent.

In the act of 1861, 'comfits and sweetmeats' are placed at thirty per cent; 'confectionery of all kinds, not otherwise provided for,' at thirty per cent; 'chocolate,' at twenty per cent. 12 id. 180, 189.

By the act of July, 1870, chocolate is again made dutiable by name (16 id. 262); and again by the act of June, 1872 (17 id. 231).

In the Revised Statutes, 'sugar-candy and confectionery' are provided for, as are 'comfits, sweetmeats, and preserved fruits;' and, separately, 'chocolate,' at a different rate of duty. Rev. Stat. pp. 472, 478.

It is quite evident that Congress has at all times intended to preserve the distinction between these articles, and that the circuit judge decided correctly when he held that chocolate, although in the form and of the character described, was not dutiable as 'confectionery' under the act of 1864.

Judgment affirmed.