Mr. BENJAMIN. In reference to the 2nd section of the bill I have nothing to say. The 1st section, as I understand, proposes to rant pensions to these rovost marshals. To t iat I am opposed. I t ink, from the manner in which it has been discussed, gentlemen do not understand fully the proposition of the 1st section. The Gentfrom Kentucky has talked about a class of provost marshals not affected by this bill. There was a large number of provost marshals who were detailed from the Army. They are not affected by this bill. If they were wounded or killed they come under the provisions of the general pension law. The other class did not belong to the Army. Gentlemen know, under the conscription law, as it was termed, a board of enrollment, to consist of a provost marshal, an enrolling officer, and a surgeon, was provided in each congressional district. The duties were defined by the law. By an order of the War Dept or the Provost Marshal Generafs dept, the provost marshal of each district was required to appoint a deuty provost marshal for each county of which his district was composed. they were appointed from among the civilians of the county. They were emplbyes of the Government, and were generally paid $100 a month. but in only a few cases did they have anything to do. Iy had the honor to discharge the dnt of provost marshal in the district in which lived, and was under the necessity of appointin 12 of these deputies. The office was a pe ect sinecure. They were paid $100 a month for a year or two, and I venture to say they were not employed more than 5 days in the month. All the duty they had to discharge was merely to lie around and seethatthings were goingright. Now, there are instances in which some 0t these officers were killed or wounded in the discharge of their duties, and this bill proposes to pension them. I see no difference between that class of employees and other employees of the Government. Almost everybody employed by the Government in connection Wi the war ran some risk of his life. There were a great many bridge builders employed and sent South to repair bridges. Many of them lost their lives; some were killed and others were wounded by the enemy. A great many persons were employed in various capacities, in connection with railroads and steam boats, and in1,000 other ways, at a salary or a perdiem. They sought the employment. None of these have been pensioned. Now, sir, these officers that are proposed to be pensioned by this bill are on the same footing as those I have mentioned, and I see not why we should take thess out from among the various civil employees of the Government and place them on the pension roll. If we are going to pension civilians at all, let us include them all. I am satisfied that this class of employes are no more deserving than the various ot ier civilians employed b the Government. I hope, therefore, that the c airman of the committee will permit the sense of the House to be taken on this distinct proosition in reference to provost marshals, an let us know whether they are to be s aeially favored.