INTERNATIONAL BOW &: STERN DOCK CO. fl. UNITED STATES.

523

act creating the latter court declares that "the costs and fees In the su preme court now provided for by law shall be costs and fees In the circuit courts of appeals" (26 stat. 826, § 2).

In Error to the Circuit Court of the United States for the Eastern District of Arkans8JS. These were actions to recover damages for personal injuries. The opinions of this court affirming the judgments on the merits are reported in 2 C. C. A. 153, 51 Fed. 178, and 2 C. C. A. 437, 51 Fed. 649, respectively. A motion is now made by defendants in error to retax the costs. I. P. Dana, for plaintiff in error. George H. Sanders and Joseph W. W. Martin, for defendant in error. . Before CALDWELL and SANBORN, Circuit Judges, and THAY· ER, District Judge. PER CURIAM. A motion is made in each of these cases to retax the costs in this court, and to strike from the costs taxed by the clerk against the plaintiff in error the $20 attorney's fee he allowed. The order of this court was that the judgment of the court below be affirmed, with costs. It has been the uniform practice of the supreme court, in cases where a judgment is affirmed, to tax an attorney's fee of $20 against the plaintiff in error. The rule of this court upon this subject is a literal copy of that of the supreme court. It is: "In all cases of affirmance of any judgment or decree in this court, costs shall be allowed to the defendant in error or appellee, unless otherwise ordered by the eourt." Rule 24, subd. 2, of supreme court rules; rule 31, subd. 2, rules of this court. The act of congress by which this court was established provides that "the costs and fees in the supreme court now provided for by law shall be costs and fees in the circuit courts of appeals." 26 Stat. 826, § 2. We are of the opinion that the fact that the highest judicial tribunal in the land has uniformly allowed this attorney's fee under a rule identical, as far as it relates to this subject, with that in this court, was sufficient evidence that this item was a part of "the costa and fees in the supreme court provided for by law" to warrant our clerk in allowing it, and the motions are accordingly denied.
INTERNATIONAL BOW & STERN DOCK CO. v. UNITED STATES.

(Oircuit Court, D. New Jersey. March 16, 1894.)
1.

COr;l'RACTS-INTERPRETA'!'ION-TECHNJCAL TERMS-ADJUSTABLE.

A contract to construct an "adjustable stern dock" does not reqUire a do",k which is automatically adjustable,' but one which Is by cutting away and filling in its gates so that they will conform to the contour of the hull of the vessel; espedally where the term if" treated as a technical one, and the experts agree upon that definition of it.

524
2.

FEDERaL REPORTER,

vol. 60.

BA14E"1"7fEBFORMANCE-TE8T-DEll'AULT.

The: last installment under the contract for the construction of such dock was to be paid after a satisfactory test with a vessel to be fur· nished by the government and approved by the contractors, within a specified. .time. The offer of one vessel approved by the contractors was withdrawn, and others were offered, and were not approved, because they were not of the class contemplated by the parties when the contract was made, and hence no test was made. 'Held, that the contractors, onplaIdng formal tender of the· dock a,fter the time for a test had ex:pired, were entitled to such last installment.

At Law. Action by the International Bow & Stern Dock Com· pany against the United States. Davison & Chapmaq Julian B. Shope, for plaintiff. Henry S. White, for the United States. DALLAS, Oircuit Judge. This suit was brought by petition of the International Bow & Stern Dock Oompany, filed under and in pursuance of the act of congress approved March 3, 1887, entitled "An act to provide for the bringing of suits against the govern· ment ot the United States." To this petition the United States, by Henry S. White, Esq., the United States attorney for the district of New Jersey, duly [email protected] answer in writing, and thereupon, on February 20,'1894, the cause was, in accordance with said act, tried by the court without a jury. The evidence adduced, and the arguments of counsel, have since been fully considered, and this opinion is now filed under the terms of the seventh section of the same statute. First. Specifio Findings of the Facts. (1) The petitioner and the United States entered into a written contract, dated February 25, 1889, by which the former agreed to deliver at. the naval station, Key West, Fla., within six months from the date of the contract (excluding the months of July, August, and September), in accordance with the plans and specifications thereto appended and made part of the contract, "one adjustable floating stern dock," for the sum of $30,000, to be paid in certain specified installments as the. work progressed, and by a final payment of $3,000, to be made "upon the delivery of the dock, ready in all respects for use, after a satisfactory test, to the commanding officer of the naval station at Key West, Fla." The only portion of the "specifications" to which it is necessary to refer is in these words:
"Dock to be tested where built, or at Key West, at the option of the government. A suitable vessel, approved by the contractors, to be furnished by the government ,at ,the port where dock Is to be tested, within two month& a,fter being notl.fl.ed that dock is completed, lind ready to be tested. Dock to be delivered at Key West, and to be at contractor's risk while in transit. Satisfactory test to mean placing the dock under stern of the ship furnished, and removing the water down to the keel. Officers and crew of the vessel to render proper assistance. Contractors to be allowed to build on government land, and to have the use of tools and machinery belonging to the government at the na,val station where built. free of cost to them. Coal . and water' for testing purposes to be supplied by the government."

INTERNATIONAL BOW & STERN DOCK cO. V.UNITED STATES.

525

(2) Apart from the matters of fact reserved for separate statement in the following paragraphs of these findings, the petitioner complied with the said contract, and did and performed all things on its part to be done and performed according to the provisions thereof; and it was paid by the government the sum of $30,000, which was the total amount agreed to be paid to it, with the exception of the final balance of $3,000, which, under the terms of the contract, was to be paid upon delivery and satisfactory test of the dock. The government has the actual possession of the dock, but has always refused. and still does refuse, to "accept" it. This unpaid balance of $3,000 constitutes the petitioner's claim in this suit. (3) The structure erected by the petitioner under the contract is, in fact, an "adjustable floating stern dock." It is a dock which is "adjustable" according to the meaning of that word as used in the contract. (4) On May 3, 1890, the petitioner notified the United States, in writing, that the dock was at Key West, "completed and ready to be tested," but it has been admitted that the time for testing was extended, and that at the expiration of the last period of extension, to wit, in January, 1891 (no testing having been made), the dock was formally tendered, and demand made for payment the balance of $3,000, which was refused. (5) Within the period allowed for testing as aforesaid, the government offered to furnish anyone of four specified vessels, either of which, as it claimed, and still claims, was a "suitable vessel" to be used for testing. One of these vessels, but not any of the others, was "approved by the contractors." The vessel appr(wed was the Baltimore. It was offered by Rear Admiral Gherardi, whose orders were that he was to supply a ship of his squadron, to be docked for the final testing of the dock. This offer was, however, not acted upon, because it was withdrawn in pursuance ·of an order of the secretary of the navy, who deemed it inexpedient to employ the Baltimore in the manner proposed. No more particular reason was assigned, or has been shown, for this withdrawal. The declination of the plaintiff to approve any other of the vessels which were offered by the government was not capri· cious, groundless, or unreasonable. In addition to the Baltimore, the Philadelphia and the Chicago were designated by the plaintiff as vessels which it was willing to approve. The dock (as had been contemplated by both parties) was constructed with especial and immediate reference to a certain class of vessels. Those which were offered and refused were not of that class, and to have pre· pared the dock for testing under anyone of them would have in· volved the plaintiff in very considerable .expense for necessary adjustment and ballast. Second. Conclusions of Law. 1. That the correct construction of the contract in suit, with regard to the only question which has been raised on that subject, is that the dock was to be "adjustable," not automatically, but by cutting away and filling in the gates so as to conform their

_E;BAL BEPOBXER,

vol. 60.

outline,iWJ .the contour of· the hull of any vessel proposed' to be docked. 2. the plaintiff having duly offered the dock for testing, and the government having failed, during the time limited by the .tofllrnish for that purp<)se any vessel which thepJaintiff approved, .or was bound to approve, and the plaintiff having"at . the expiration of that time, formally tendered the dock, the latter did all that, under the circumstances, it was necessary for it to do to entitle it to the final payment of $3,000, and to the judgII\ent in its favor to be rendered at the conclusion of this opinion.; Third. General Observations. The material portions of the contract in suit are,' I think, sufficiently set out in the first finding, but the contract itself is in evidence, and, may be treated as embodied in that finding, should it be deemed requisite to examine it at length in any proceedings to ensueuppn the entry of the present judgment The facts stated in the second finding have not been set forth with greater particularity, because no question has been made with respect to them, except that on the trial the point was made I)n behalf of the government that the dock lacked about two inches of the height requisite for docking tw:o or three of 1fhe largest vessels of the navy. . This allegation, however, if su.stained by c;lear and positive evidence (which it is not), w()uldnot, under the circumstances, justify me in reversing or modifying the finding that "the petitioner complied with the said contract," etc. The con-wact contai,ns no stipulation that the dock should be of sufficient height to accommodate the particular vessels referred to. The height of the dock as built is precisely "in accordance with tl).e plans and specifications." The latter expressly specified, ''])epth inside, over keel blocks, 22 feet 6 inches," and it is not asserted that the dock in question does not meet this requirement. Having complied with the terms of its contract, nothing more can now be demanded of the plaintiff as a condition precedent to the right of recovery. The fact is that this point was made for the first time upon the trial. It was not l:luggested when the several payments on account were made, and it is plain that, as testified by Commodore Farquhar, chief of the bureau of docks and YlU'ds, the only reason for refusing payment of the balance now sued for was that there had been no test of the dock. The real and only substantial question in the case, as I have already indicated, is as to whether the plaintiff was justified in refusing to approve the only vessels which the government offered for testing the dock, and upon this question I have no doubt whatever. The dock was constructed, as I have said, with a view to being tested by a particular class of vessels, and in view of this fact those which were offered were not "suitable," and were rightfully and in good faith rejected by the plaintiff. There were others which he was willing to accept, but no one of these was tendered, although the time fixed by the contract within which the test was to be made was greatly extended, and the,reis no evidence which would warrant the imputation that

INTERNATIONAL BOW & STERN DOCK CO·. 'II. UNITED STATES.

527

the dock, if tested, would be found faulty or defective. The learned United States attorney also took the position, on the trial, that the dock tendered is not an "adjustable" one, and the question thus raised is really as to the correct construction of the contract in this regard, for as to the actual constr:uction of the dock there is no dispute. The interpretation of writings is, even in cases tried with a jury, ordinarily for decision by the judge, and, hence, is commonly said to be matter of law; but this deduction is not accurate. The true subject of inquiry when a document is to be construed is the meaning of the parties as ascertainable from the language which they have used in the instrument, and this is plainly not a question of law, but of fact, though one of those incidental questions of fact, the solution of which is confided to the court, and not to the jury. This is said in explanation of the fact that this matter is covered by both the third finding of fact and the first conclusion of law. I deem it proper to add to those brief statements a very few words by way of elaboration. The dock as built is certainly not automatically adjustable, but by simple, though costly, changes in its gates, which are so made as to provide facilities to that end, it may be in such manner altered, without affecting its other and principal parts, as to fit (adjust) it to receive vessels of different sizes and varying forms. If I were to confine myself to a consideration of the con· tract alone, I would be of opinion that such a structure meets the description of an "adjustable" dock; but the case was tried. in this respect, on the theory thal the word "adjustable," as here used, is a technical term, and therefore for definition by witnesses familiar with the art to which the contract relates. Accordingly, expert testimony was, without objection, received to interpret it, and the accomplished oflfcers of the navy who were examined on behalf of the government, quite agreed with the expert witnesses called by the plaintiff, that the dock in question is such a one as, by persons versed in the art, is understood to be adjustable. During the trial some objections were interposed upon either side to the admission of evidence. The evidence was received without passing upon the objections, and the question presented in each instance was reserved for consideration at this time; bUt, as the facts found do not to any extent depend upon evidence to the reception of which any objection was made, it is not necessary to extend this opinion by embodying in it any formal rulings upon such objections. Fourth. Judgment of the Court. And now, March 16, 1894, it is ordered and adjudged that judg· ment be entered for the petitioner, the International Bow & Stern Dock Company, and against the United States, for the sum of
$3,000.

NOTE. The matter was not presented by counsel, but I understand sectIon 1091, Rev. Sl, to apply to this case, and therefore have not allowed interest on the claim "up to the time of the rendition of judgment."

ii28

I'EDERAL REPORTER,

:vol. 60.

EARNSHA.W v. BOYER. (CIrcuit Court, E. D. Pennsylvania. January 22, 1894.)

No. 11.

L

PRINCIPAL AND SURETY-DISCHARGE-ALTERATION OF CONTRACT.

Plaintiff purchased all the are to be produced by a certain company within the ensUing year, and sold one-third of the amount under a contract which required that "shipments shall be made in as. nearly eqUal moutb}y proportions as possible," Defendant became surety for the buyers. The parties to the contract construed it as requiring delivery of·thewhole amount of ore within the year, and they afterwards agreed thatpla1ntiff should have one month longer in which to make delivery. '8'elrl,tb,at this was such a change in. the principal contract as to disthe surety, who did not consent to it. .
! '

2.

Even If plaiIitiff, "!IDder the original contract, was bound only to deliver ore' within a reasonable time, the subsequent agreement substituted f9rthis a definite time,and is, on that theory, such a change in the princlPafCQptraCt as wlU, discharge the surety,

Action by Alfred Earnshaw against Jerome L Boyer. On Jn9ti,on to strike off nonsuit. R.O: forpla,lntiff. John ,G. Johnson and T. P. Prichard, for defendant. surety. The principal contract, and that of the defendant, areas follows:

4-tJ.A\w.

I

i

DAL1JAS, .Oircuit ,Judge. This action is against Jerome L.

PhIladelphia, January 29th, 1890. Having pUrchased from the Marbella tron Ore Company, under contract dated · January 24th, 1890, the total output of their mines for. the twelve ,months cOI):lmencing Marcll 1st,1890, and ending March 1st, 1891 (expected to be from sixty to eighty thousand tons), together with an amount of washed. Marbella sand, not to exceed one-third of the said mined are actually shipped,I have sold to Messrs. Isaac McHose & Sons, Norristown, Fa., onethird of the are shipped under said contract, on the following terms and conditions: (1) PriCe, to be at the rate of seve!;!. dollars and eighty cents per ton of twenty-two hundred and forty pounds for the mined are, commonly known as "Mar'bellaLump," and seven dollars lind forty cents for the sand are, .commonlY known as "MarbeUa Sand.'; (2) The above prices are based on an ocean freight rate of twelve shillings per ton. All freight over twelve shillings to be added tl) the invoice as part of the price of the ore, and aU freight under twelve shillings to be deducted from the invoice. (3) Weight to be according to the United States customhouse certificate 01' weight. ' . (4) Payment to be made one-half in prompt cash on arrival of vessel, and .the balance bnpresentation of invoice and customhouse certificate of weight. (5) Shipment to be made in as nearly equal monthly proportions as possible. (6,) Delivery tl) be made .f·. o. b. cars of the Philadelphia. and Reading Railroad Company at Philadelphia. (7) Sellers not to be respq'llsible for lol;'ls at seanor all· .failure of the MarbeUa Iron 'Ore Company to deliver under their contract. (8) Change of Duty: Should the government of the United States reduce or remove the existing duty of seventy-five cents per ton on iron are, the