Batten & Co. v. United States

Appellants for many years have been importers of certain woolen, worsted, and other dress goods at the port of New York from Bradford, England. Their appeal here concerns certain alleged commissions claimed to have been paid by the New York firm to so-called brokers in this class of goods in the country of exportation. The evidentiary facts in the case disclose that the goods were purchased from these so-called brokers, but could not bo bought from the manufacturers or others. The issue principally argued at the hearing and in the briefs is a claimed duress exercised by the collector…