Eaton v. American Chain Co., 179.

• Decision Date: 06 March 1933
• Docket Number: No. 179.,179.
• Citation: 63 F.2d 783
• Parties: EATON, Collector of Internal Revenue, v. AMERICAN CHAIN CO. (3 cases).
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Second Circuit

63 F.2d 783 (1933)

EATON, Collector of Internal Revenue, v. AMERICAN CHAIN CO. (3 cases).

No. 179.

Circuit Court of Appeals, Second Circuit.

March 6, 1933.

John Buckley, U. S. Atty., and George H. Cohen, Asst. U. S. Atty., both of Hartford, Conn., and C. M. Charest, Gen. Counsel, Bureau of Internal Revenue, and E. F. McMahon, Sp. Atty., Bureau of Internal Revenue, both of Washington, D. C., for appellant.

Chester I. Long, Peter Q. Nyce, and Charles P. Swindler, all of Washington, D. C., and David S. Day, of Bridgeport, Conn., for appellee.

Before MANTON, AUGUSTUS N. HAND, and CHASE, Circuit Judges.

MANTON, Circuit Judge.

These three consolidated causes resulted below in judgments for refunds of manufacturer's excise taxes, amounting to $640,508.43, paid on the manufacture and sale of Weed chains, a product of the appellee. The tax was imposed under the terms of section 900 (3) of the Revenue Act of 1921 (42 Stat. 291) and section 600 (3) of the Revenue Act of 1924 (26 USCA § 881 note) for the periods of July, 1922, to July 1924. The taxing statute requires a monthly return. The 1921 act provides: "That from and after January 1, 1922, there shall be levied, assessed, collected, and paid upon the following articles sold or leased by the manufacturer, producer, or importer, a tax equivalent to the following percentages of the price for which so sold or leased — (1) Automobile trucks and automobile wagons; * * * (2) other automobiles and motor cycles * * * except tractors; * * * (3) tires, inner tubes, parts, or accessories for any of the articles enumerated in subdivision (1) or (2), sold to any person other than a manufacturer or producer of any of the articles enumerated in subdivision (1) or (2). * * *"

The Act of 1924 (26 USCA § 881 note) reads: "On and after the expiration of thirty days after the enactment of this act there shall be levied, assessed, collected, and paid upon the following articles sold or leased by the manufacturer, producer, or importer, a tax equivalent to the following percentage of the price for which so sold or leased — (1) Automobile truck chassis and automobile wagon chassis; * * * (2) other automobile chassis and bodies and motor cycles; * * * (3) tires, inner tubes, parts, or accessories for any of the articles enumerated in subdivision (1) or (2), sold to any person other than a manufacturer or producer of any of the articles enumerated in subdivision (1) or (2), 2½ per centum. This subdivision shall not apply to chassis or bodies for automobile trucks, automobile wagons, or other automobiles. * * *" Appellee manufactures Weed chains and the sales taxed were made to others than manufacturers of automobile trucks, automobiles, and motorcycles — to jobbers and distributors. The tax was imposed only where the purchaser did not indicate the purchase was being made for a nontaxable use and was imposed in conformity with articles 15 and 16 of Regulation 47 promulgated by the Treasury Department. These regulations, in substance, defined accessories as articles designed to be attached to and used in connection with automotive vehicles, referred to in subdivisions (1) and (2) of each act, to add to their utility or ornamentation, and which are primarily adapted for use in connection with such vehicles whether or not essential to their operation. The Weed chains were advertised by the appellee to the public as adapted for and meeting the essential requirements of every known make of automobile and autotruck, and the Commissioner found them to be accessories. No tax was imposed by the jobber or distributor when he sold to the dealer who in turn sold to the user. The chains were patented and were designed and primarily adapted for automobile use. Later, when the automobile truck came into use, they were redesigned and adapted for use on trucks. Appellees have classified their chains as "truck chains," "Weed Regulars," and "Weed Regular Cord Chains." Some chains were usable by tractors and fire trucks, but their use was chiefly for automobiles and automobile trucks. The tax is imposed as a revenue raising measure.

It is true, if there is a doubt as to the taxpayer's liability, it should be resolved in his favor. American-La France Fire Engine Co. v. Riordan, 6 F.(2d) 964 (C. C. A. 2). Still, the purpose of the statutes must be given full effect, if possible, and the claim of exemption from taxation must be clear enough. Bank of Commerce v. Tenn., 161 U. S. 134, 16 S. Ct. 456, 40 L. Ed. 645. The scheme of the statute seems clear. The 1921 act and the 1924 act both show an intent by Congress to tax, first automobile trucks and automobile wagons and accessories therefor, sold on or in connection therewith and with the sale thereof at a fixed rate of 3 per cent.; second, other automobiles and motorcycles including the accessories sold on or in connection therewith and with the sale, except tractors, 5 per cent.; and, third, it imposes the tax when the parts and accessories are sold unattached, 5 per cent. In each instance the tax is imposed upon the manufacturer or the producer of the articles enumerated. If the chains are accessories, it is clear that Congress imposed a tax upon them when sold by this manufacturer.

The patent rights secured from the United States clearly specify that the chains were adaptable for use on automobiles to prevent skidding. They were described as primarily useful for this purpose. If Congress had intended to give exemption to such an accessory to an automobile, it would have so stated as it did in the case of tractors by reference in the statute, or it would have limited the language of the statute so as to afford clearly an exemption therefor, but it used the words "parts or accessories." The use of such generic words intended, we think, that they should be given a broad signification to effectuate the purposes of the statute. Worth Bros. Co. v. Lederer, 251 U. S. 507, 40 S. Ct. 282, 64 L. Ed. 377; Forged Steel Wheel Co. v. Lewellyn, 251 U. S. 511, 40 S. Ct. 285, 64 L. Ed. 380. In Universal Battery Co. v. United States, 281 U. S. 580, 50 S.Ct. 422, 423, 74 L.Ed. 1051, speaking of the statute, the court said:

"Thus the scheme of taxation embodied in these provisions centers around the motor vehicles enumerated therein. Their sale is the principal thing that is taxed, and the sale of parts and accessories `for' such vehicles is taxed because the parts and accessories are within the same field with the vehicles and used to the same ends."

The Supreme Court referred to...