DISSENTING OPINION.
De Vries, Judge:I dissent. The paramount rule of statutory construction is and ever has been that the intention of the legislature when ascertained, the statute being valid, must prevail. All others aré subordinate and must yield to this superior rule of construction.
Justice Story, Chief Justice Marshall, and a unanimous court concurring, thus tersely stated the rule in Wilkinson v. Leland (2 Pet., 27 U. S., 627-662):
.This is a legislative act, and is to be interpreted according to the intention of the legislature, apparent upon its face. Every technical rule, as to the construction or force of particular terms, must yield to the clear expression of the paramount will of the legislature.
The principle was again succinctly expressed by the Supremo Court in Oates v. National Bank (100 U. S., 239-244) in these words:
The duty of the court, being satisfied of the intention of the legislature, clearly expressed in a constitutional enactment, is to give effect to that intention, and not to defeat it by adhering too rigidly to the mere letter of the statute, or to technical rules of construction. Wilkinson v. Leland (2 Pet., 627); Sedgwick, Constitutional and Statutory Construction (196).
In the later case of Hawaii v. Mankichi (190 U. S., 197-212) the same court repeated and thus amplified this settled maxim of the law:
But there is another question underlying this and all other rules for the interpretation of statutes, and that is, What was the intention of the legislative body? Without going back to the famous case of the drawing of blood in the streets of Bologna, the books are full of authorities to the effect that the intention of the lawmaking power will prevail, even against the letter of the statute, or, as tersely expressed by Mr. Justice Swayne in Smythe v. Fiske (23 Wall. 374, 380): “A thing may be within the letter of a statute.and not within its meaning, .and within its meaning though not within its letter. The intention of the lawmaker is the law. ’'
*201The legislative intent' may be collected from the letter of the statute, or statutes in pari materia, from certain legislative records, or in many other familiar ways; but however and whenever ascertained, it prevails, whether within or over or contrary to the letter of the statute and all other rules of construction. (See numerous citations — 11 Encyclopedia of United States Supreme Court Reports, p. 113, sub. 2, et seq.) What is the sound logic supporting this irrefrangible and unyielding rule? Obviously, whenever a court ceases to follow this rule, at that point that court ceases to adjudicate and commences to legislate.
The rule equally applies to and is one of the rules of construction of import revenue acts. Hartranft v. Oliver (125 U. S., 525). It however is distinct from and a competitive canon of construction with that of “eo nomine designation,” familiar in the construction of import customs legislation. However dominating the latter precept may be in such jurisprudence, it yields to the former when the two are found in conflict. This court in numerous cases has recognized the separate existence of the two rules as well as the controlling influence of that of an ascertained legislative intent.
Thus, in Burr & Hardwick v. United States (9 Ct. Cust. Appls., 71; T. D. 37943), we said:
We still recognize that rule, but we also have regard for the well-settled rule, especially applicable to tariff statutes, that an eo nomine designation of an article, nothing to appear to indicate a contrary legislative intent, should govern.
In United States v. Mills & Gibb (8 Ct. Cust. Appls., 422; T. D. 37667) this court, in holding that, the provisions of the first part of paragraph 258 prevailed over the eo nomine designation of “nets” and “nettings” in paragraph 358, present act, thus applied the rule:
However this may be, an incongruity of rates in some instances does not to our mind justify a conclusion which defeats what we think is the clear intention of Congress to segregate under paragraph 258 such as these upholstery goods figured by the Jacquard attachment and composed wholly or in chief value of cotton.
So, in United States v. Snow’s United States Sample Express Co. (8 Ct. Cust. Appls., 351; T. D. 37611), wherein the competition was between the narrow designation, “articles * * * scalloped, * * * by whatever name known,” paragraph 358, and the first part of paragraph 258, this court, conceding that the former designation was at most equivalent to an eo nomine designation, expressly, predicated its conclusion upon the precedence of the rule of legislative intent. We therein said:
Regardless of relative specificity of the terms employed the intention of Congress in the enactment of paragraph 258 to make that provision inclusive of all goods falling there-within and to thereby exclude therefrom all other provisions of the act has previously been adjudicated by this court.
* * * • * * * ' *
*202The rule, therefore, seems stare decisis in this court that as to all goods answering to the specific description of this portion of paragraph 258, that language was intended to be inclusive and to exclude applicability of all other terms of the act. That conclusion determines this case.
The foregoing several recent pronouncements of this precept were but reaffirmances of earlier applications by the court of this canon of construction. As related to the said provisions of paragraph 258 the rule was probably first applied in Carter & Son v. United States (6 Ct. Cust. Appls., 253; T. D. 35475), wherein this court, through its presiding judge, said:
Obviously these provisions must have been intended (by Congress) to invade the other paragraphs of the tariff act and to remove or leave out of such paragraphs the goods answering (in such other paragraphs) to this particular and specific description.
The subsequent case of Downing & Co. v. United States (6 Ct. Cust. Appls., 447; T. D. 35984) was in fact a reargument of the issues in Carter & Son’s case, supra. Therein importers’ counsel strenuously insisted that the concededly eo nomine words of paragraph 358 should obtain over the obviously descriptive terms of the first part of paragraph 258. This court in reaffirmance of the Carter & Son’s case, and in answer to said contention of - importers’ counsel, said:
In that case it was pointed out by this court that “the intent appears to be manifest to make .the use to which a narrowly prescribed class of goods is devoted the test of its classification.” The .court further observed “these provisions must have been intended to invade the other paragraphs of the tariff act and to remove or leave out of such paragraphs the goods answering to this particular and specific description.”
The rule is not one resting in relative specificity so much as in the obvious intent of Congress to select goods of a specified class, here designated by and according to their use, and rate them at a uniform rate of duty. The application of the rule is more in harmony with than at variance from the rules of specific description and does no violence to any well-recognized principle of tariff interpretation.
See, also, Levi, Sondheimer & Co. v. United States (7 Ct. Cust. Appls., 447; T. D. 37012).
The same rule was applied in the “smokers’-articles,” the “agricultural implements,”, the “imitation jet ornaments,” and other oases decided by this court, which it would unnecessarily and unduly prolong this writing to review.
The whole course of decision not only emphasizes the distinction between the two rules, but may be epitomized by the statement that this court has uniformly held that a legislative intent to segregate a class or group of goods and rate them specially for duty, when found will be held paramount over all other provisions of the aot be they eo nomine or descriptive. The competitive force of such provisions in the act may probably best be expressed in the words of the presiding judge in Carter & Son’s case, supra:
Obviously these provisions must have been intended to invade the other paragraphs of the'tariff act and to remove or leave out of such paragraphs the goods answering to this particular and specific description.
*203There is presented in this case the relative predominance of a part of the so-called “beaded article” paragraph (333) of the act of 1913 reading:
333. * * * Other articles not embroidered nor appliquéd and not specially 'provided for in this section, composed -wholly or in chief value of beads or spangles made of glass or paste, gelatin, metal, or other material, * .* *.
A provision of paragraph 347, reading:
347. * * * Artificial or ornamental feathers suitable for use as millinery ornaments, artificial and ornamental fruits, grains, leaves, flowers, and stems or parts thereof, of whatever material composed, not specially provided for in this section, -* * * "
The provision of said paragraph 333 was before this court early in “the life of that act in Loewenthal & Co. v. United States (6 Ct. Cust. Appls., 209: T. D. 35464). The competing provisions in that case were that part of paragraph 333 quoted and the eo nomine provisions of paragraph 358 for “ornaments” and “trimmings.” Two points were presented and decided, either of which was decisive of the case'. The one that the goods were excluded from paragraph 358 ex vi termini and the'other that the legislative history of paragraph 333 .and the provisions in pari materia of the act of 1913 conclusively showed an intent of Congress to make said paragraph inclusive and to group together therewithin all beaded articles and articles in chief value of beads not expressly therein excluded therefrom, and to classify all such articles therein for duties thereunder.' The manner in which this was by Congress accomplished, and specific instances thereof, was pointed out as evidentiary of the concluded congressional purpose. The point was one of two presented and decided by the court and made equally with the other conclusive of the case. We .said:
Additional significance is added in that in this readjustment and recodification of these paragraphs Congress dropped the provisions of paragraphs 349 and 402 of the act of 1909, including therewithin goods in part of other materials, such as rubber and metal, and particularly the provisions for “silk goods ornamented with beads or spangles, ” provided in said paragraph 402. The fact that paragraph 358, act of 1913, is the substitute for paragraphs 349 and 402 of the act of 1909, and drops therefrom the provision for “goods ornamented with beads or spangles” in said paragraph 402, thereby failing, not to say refusing, to carry it into the revised paragraph (358) and expressly confining the provisions relating to that subject matter to paragraph 333, does not leave the congressional 'purpose clothed .with much doubt. Bearing in mind, therefore, the amended act, and reading together all the amending provisions, we think the congressional purpose clear to provide by paragraph SSS for all articles in chief value of beads, and by paragraph 358 for the therein enumerated articles in chief value of threads, yarns, and filaments.
The provision was again before the court in American Bead Co. v. United States (7 Ct. Cust. Appls., 18; T. D. 36259). The articles therein the .subject of decision were beaded-chains or necklaces, and the competing provision of the “jewelry” paragraph (356.) The *204court again reviewed tbe decisions and other paragraphs in pari materia of the tariff acts and said:
From the foregoing it is made clear that as to imitation jet articles this court has already declared, and as to other beaded articles, nonmetallic and not in imitation of precious stones, assumed, that they had been allotted by Congress a different tariff status from jewelry commonly or commercially so known.
*******
Equally persuasive is the present legislative concept. We have heretofore set out in full the congressional code in force affecting beads and beaded articles and jewels and jewelry, paragraphs 333, 356, and 357. While the language of the “jewelry” paragraph, 356 of the act of 1913, is conspicuously narrowed in material particulars from the scope of its predecessor paragraph, 448 of the act of 1909, the- provisions of the here competing paragraph, 333 of the act of 1913, providing for beads and beaded articles is enlarged beyond its predecessor paragraph, 421 of the act of 1909. This patent fact leads us tp the same and fortifies the conclusion reached with reference to the relative specificity of paragraphs SSS and S5G by this court in comparing paragraphs 333 and 358, this act, in Loewenthal & Co. et al. v. United States (6 Ct. Cust. Appls., 209; T. D. 35464). We therein said:
Bearing in mind, therefore, the amended act, and reading together all the amending provisions, we think the congressional purpose clear to provide by paragraph 333 for all articles in chief value of beads *' * *.
The court views that it was intended as an exhaustive provision as to its subject matter (1) beads and spangles, (2) articles composed wholly and in chief value of beads and spangles, only to be invaded by some other clearly and more specifically expressed intention of Congress.
Herein the court reexamined and reaffirmed its conclusion in the Loewenthal & Co. case, supra, and, giving superior force to an ascertained congressional purpose to group all “beaded articles” (wholly or in chief value) within paragraph 333 for dutiable purposes, held that principle controlling of decision.
In that case, as in Loewenthal & Co.’s case', supra, there was directly and necessarily involved, the amplitude and competitive force of each of the competing paragraphs, one of which was paragraph 333. Of two competing paragraphs considered and construed by the court it would be an anomalous ruling to say that those determinations affecting the paragraph under which the goods were held not included were not and those affecting the paragraph under which the goods were held dutiable were obiter. In that case the goods were held dutiable under paragraph 333 and the construction of that paragraph relied upon herein is the construction there announced. The court undertook and therein decided after careful review of the authorities and statutes that issue. That conclusion has been followed by this court as authority and the basis of decision in Bloomingdale Bros. et al. v. United States (8 Ct. Cust Appls., 314; T. D. 37596), wherein the Government, accepting as settled law the foregoing decisions, sought to overcome the same in part by commercial testimony, this court holding that commercial testimony insufficient. . ,
*205It will be noted that the only invasion of paragraph 333 permitted under the rule approved in the American Bead Co. case, supra, is “by some other clearly and more specifically expressed intention of Congress.”
It follows from the foregoing that an eo nomine designation is not such.
It must and logically can only be invaded, in view of the authorities cited, by a shown contrary intention of Congress, so worded or shown to exist, to equally exclude the therein rated merchandise from interference of this and other provisions of' the act. For examples: In the American Bead Co. v. United States case, supra; Unites States v. Bartiromo (9 Ct. Cust. Appls., 183; T. D. 38003); United States v. Battiloro, etc. (9 Ct. Cust. Appls., 180; T. D. 38002), this court held that Congress intended the jewelry paragraphs so exclusively provided for jewelry and jewelry materials. That is upon the principle that the jewelry provision evidences an intent upon the part of Congress to include therewithin all jewelry articles and materials, and therefore becomes exclusive of all other paragraphs and inclusive of all jewelry articles and materials, that intent of’Congress having been deduced by this court, as was done by the Supreme Court in De Forest et al. v. Lawrence (13 How., 54 U. S., 274-281), wherein it was said:
Congress, in legislating on the subject of- duties, has described an article so as to identify it by a given designation for revenue purposes, and this has been so long continued as to impress on it a particular designation as an article of import, then it must be treated as a distinct article, whether there be evidence that it is so known in commerce or not. It must be taken as thus known in the sense of the revenue laws, by reason of the legal designation given to it, and by which it has been known and practiced on at the customhouse.
It is but-fair to presume, after having been treated by the lawmakers for a considerable length of time as an article known by this designation, with a view to the assessment of the rate of duty upon it, that, if intended to be charged specifically or by enumeration the designation by which it was known to them would have been used, instead of the one known to trade and commerce, if that should be different.
Of course Congress did not exhaust this class of legislation in paragraph 333.
Bearing in mind the foregoing considerations let us repeat, for more immediate reference, the competing provision of paragraph 347:
347. * * * Artificial and ornamental fruits, grains, leaves, flowers, and stems or parts thereof, of whatever material composed, not specially provided for in this section, * * *. (Italics ours.)
The court deduced the legislative purpose to make paragraph 333 inclusive from its legislative history, and the therein recited action of Congress in framing the act of 1913, in eliminating from all other paragraphs many and all references to “beaded” articles and materials by name, most convincing evidences of a congressional pur*206pose to make that paragraph inclusive of all beads and beaded' articles. No such history or congressional action is here shown or claimed. The only claimed evidence of such as to this provision is the component phrase “of whatever material composed.” Are-these words per se, as herein written, sufficient evidence upon which to find a congressional intent to make this provision exclusive and intended by Congress to reach out into all other provisions of the act and gather herewithin all articles answering to its terms ? Careful analysis would seem to answer that question in the negative.
In the absence of some significant legislative history, or convincing congressional acts of inclusiveness relating to the provision, it would be difficult to defend a decision that these words evidence a congressional purpose to make this phrase exclusive, of all other paragraphs of the act, when immediately following and as a part of the provision occurs the words “not specially provided for in this section.” Literally and grammatically the words relate to the foregoing enumerations “artificial and ornamental fruits, grains, leaves, flowers,” etc., which naturally are constructed of numerous materials not common or congruous with the fibers of such articles, and this phrase is more likely intended by Congress to include within the preceding enumerations all such imitations, however crude. The phrase is intended by Congress to define the scope of the preceding-enumerations and evidences only the intent of Congress as to the latitude of those enumerations, and is not intended to evidence an intent of Congress to make this provision paramount over all other-provisions of the act. In that view these words only define the scope-of the preceding enumerations, and, having so done, their intended force is spent, and we must look to these, enumerations as thus-amplified by Congress to determine the competitive force of the provision as to other parts of the act. The result is that it has only the-contesting energy of an eo nomine provision.
The phrase, in its intended application and effectiveness, may be-illustrated, by another common, to tariff legislation, “by whatever name known.” The Supreme Court, in Mason v. Eobertson (139-U. S., 624-627), held that the full legislative import of that term is-an equivalent to an enumeration by name of every article named or described in the enumeration of which it is a part. This court also took that view [United States v. Snow’s United States Sample Express Co. (8 Ct. Cust. Appls., 351; T. D. 37611)], but ruled that it would not prevail as against a provision which the court adjudicated Congress had intended as exhaustive.
Precisely the same principle, as to that phrase, was applied by-this court in United States v. Field (7 Ct. Cust. Appls., 430; T. D. 36985).
*207That Congress viewed the phrase “of whatever material composed” as relating to and of the force above stated only, and that other language was employed when.it wished to adopt words of the paragraph expressive of an intent to make the particular provision paramount, is evidenced by the employment by Congress for the latter purpose of other words than the quoted phrase in the same sentence. Thus paragraph 459 of the tariff act of 1897 in part read:
459. * * * Other pipes and pipe bowls of whatever material composed, and all smohers’ articles whatsoever; not specially provided for in this act, * * *. (Italics ours.)
The employment by Congress of additional and different words expressive of its intent to make the phrase inclusive is a legislative interpretation.
That such was the view of this court is witnessed by the fact that in construing this provision and holding its language indicative of a congressional purpose to make the same exclusive, the latter and not the former italicized words were predicated in support of that conclusion.
Thus in Knauth v. United States (1 Ct. Cust. Appls., 334; T. D. 31432), which said decision has been repeatedly followed by the court, we said:
The phrase as used in the statute, “all smokers’ articles whatsoever,” is exceedingly comprehensive. The use of both words “all ” and “whatsoever” seems to leave little doubt as to the intention of the legislature. “Whatsoever” is an intensified form of “whatever.” The uniform definition is “of whatever nature, kind, or sort; * * * what thing or things soever; no matter what thing or things; * * "
The intensified form of the expression used, together with the far-reaching effect of the qualifying words stated, manifests to our mind a purpose on the part of the legislature to reach out into all branches of trade and commerce and to gather within the dutiable provisions of this paragraph everything used chiefly by smokers, in that pursuit, and for that purpose, wherever else they may occur or within whatever other provisions of the tariff law the merchandise may be included.
From the foregoing considerations, however, it would appear that the phrase was not used by Congress with intent' of exclusiveness, and that, in that view under the said rule of controlling importance, these importations should be rated for duty under paragraph 333 as held by the board.