Mr. FESSENDEN. Because that was the way it was originally drawn as authorized by the committee. I moved in the Senate to insert the words “or steam” and no objection was made, it being understood to be an amendment of the committee; now there being some question about that fact, in order to set myself right I move to strike out the words “or steam.” They were not in the section as it was originally drawn and agreed to by the committee, which was not intended to cover steam vessels but only sailing vessels. The reasons applicable to the 2 classes are not precisely the same; they are stronger perhaps in the one case than the other. The general movement grows out of the fact of the jcondition of our navigation, the building of vessels of all kinds, owing to the heavy burdens imposed in a very great measure by the condition of our trade, and owing more particularly perhaps to the burdens imposed by the internalrevenue laws, with which under this bill we cannot meddle, but those taxes are very onerous. Our sailing vessels come directly in compe tition with the vessels of NewBrunswick, and so much in competition that it is impossible for men to j.vessels along our At lantic coast which enter at all upon the foreign trade with that competition. Presume the expense is just about double, and consequently all our ship yards are pretty much deserted, and not only our ship yards for the construction of sailing vessels, but of steam vessels also. This is a very great injury to us in many particulars, and more especially in the fact that if this condition of things continues the skilled workmen who have given to our ships and ship building such a high reputation will be scattered and engaged in other pursuits, and we shall lose more than we do now. In the hope and belief that something might be done by this drawback, especially upon sailing vessels, the committee were unanimous in the conclusion that it ought to be given. I consulted the Treasury Dept, and found that there would be no difficulty in its execution. Inas much as the words " or steam” were inserted under a misapprehension on my own part I move to strike them out in order that the section may be restored to what it was before.