Mr. BENJAMIN. As one of the members of the ComInvalidPens, I was unable to agree with the majorit of the committee who reported this bill. Here is a proposition that is very unusual in its character in gentleman the legislation of this country. Mrs. McCook l is already in the enjoyment of a pension of $300 a year, granted to her by the Dept. in consequence of the death of her hus band. It is said that this is a celebrated family. In regard to that I am not going to take issue with anyone. But for that they should receive the some consideration that every other celebrated family is entitled to, no more and no less. It is said that this is afihting family. For that they are entitled to the same consideration that the 100,000other fighting families of this country are entitled to. It is said that this family suffered greatly during the war. That is undoubtedly true; l, i Ivote for this bill the country. I can point to families of constituents of mine every male member of which has laid down his life for his country in this war, and those who survive are in the greatest penury, and yet not one of them can obtain relief under the pension laws and not only have they suffered in this way, but they have lost every vestige of property that they had. All has been destroyed, and perhaps a weeping mother is leftin enury and want. Before wish to see these other 1,000s who are in need provided for by the Government of the U.S. There is no pretense that the McCook family are in destitute circumstances. One of them is now occupying a high position in the U.S. Army, an otheer of high rank. certainly one, and I do not know but more than one. There is no pretense that Mrs. McCook is in want at all. For that reason, if for no other, I am opposed to setting aside the 1,000s who are in actual wantand providing for this particular case. I am not disposed to detract anything from the merits of thisfamily. The are entitled to all the credit that is accorde to them; but they are no more meritorious than many another family that has done as much and suffered as much during the war as this. Then, again, I am opposed to settin a precedent in the passage of this bill, wrich proposes to grant an annuity, not a pension. I am not aware that there is a case in the history of this Government of the character here proposed.