United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

United States v. Chavez, 228 U.S. 525 (1913)

United States v. Chavez

No. 863

Argued April 11, 1913

Decided May 5, 1913

228 U.S. 525

Syllabus

In construing a statute, a word used therein may be given the meaning it has in common speech, although it may have a narrower technical meaning.

While the word "export" technically includes the landing in, as well as the shipment to, a foreign country, it is often used as meaning only the shipment from this country, and it will be so construed when used in a statute the manifest purpose of which would be defeated by limiting the word to its strict technical meaning.

As used in the joint resolution of March 14, 1912, 37 Stat. 630, prohibiting exportation of munitions of war to American countries where conditions of domestic violence exist, the word "export" refers to any shipment of the prohibited articles from the United States whether there was a landing thereof in the foreign country or not.

Personal carriage of prohibited articles from this to a foreign country does not render inapplicable the prohibition to export such article under the resolution of March 14, 1912.

The facts, which involve the construction of the Joint Resolution of March 14, 1912, 37 Stat. 630, relative to shipment of arms and munitions of war to other American countries during times of domestic violence therein and what constitutes an exportation under such resolution, are stated in the opinion.

Page 228 U. S. 527