Page:Federal Reporter, 1st Series, Volume 4.djvu/517

 MAT V. SIUMOKSt £03 �included tin plates among manufactures of metals, but haa designated them as tin plates specifically, or included them in fiome other provision. �In the case agreed, it is stated that "the merchandise in question was propeiiy classiaed as 'tin in plates,' and is known in commerce only as 'tin in plates, or tin plates,' and does not corne under the provisions in schedule E, viz, 'iron and tin plates, galvanized or coated with any metal otherwise than by electric batteries, two and a half cents per pound.'" Now, if "tin plates" are known in commerce only by that name, it would naturally be expected that congress, in fram- ing tariiï acts, would also designate them by that name, because the name is specifie and definite, and well known among merchants ; and tarifE laws genërally follow the lan- guage of commerce. And so we find congress has done. ThuS, in the act of July 4, 1779, at the ôrst session of congress (1 Gen. St. 26) "tin plates," specifically named as such, were made free, while tinware was taxed 7|- per cent, ad valorem. So, in the act of August 10, 1790, (1 St. 181,) "tin plates" are made free — specifically excepted from duty — while rolled iron and ail wares of tin are subjected to a duty of 7^ per ceni.ad valorem. Again, by the act of May 2, 1792, (1 St. 269,) "ail manufactures of iron, steel, tin, pewter, copper, etc., of 7vJiich either of these metals is the article ofchief value, not other- wise particularly enumerated," are made to pay 10 per cent, ad valorem, but "tin plates" are continued on the free list by section 2 of the same act. This act of congress is particularly observable in this : here is the expression, "ail manufactures of iron, steel, tin, pewter, and brass," just as strong, just as clear, just as free from ambiguity as the expression "ail manufactures of metals," in section 2503 of the Revised Statutes, and yet it clearly does not include "tin plates." ' �The act of 1816, April 27th,' (3 Gen. St. U. S. 310.) which repealed ail former laws imposing duties, imposed a duty of 20 per cent, ad valorem upon "ail articles manuf actured from brass, copper, iron, steel, pewter, lead, or tin, or of which these metals, or either of them, is the material of chief value, —re-enacting this provision of the act of 1792 in very nearly ����