Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-23
PENSION BILLS.
Increase and NeW-Change in Mail Service-NewHav-
 en K. of St. P. Petition.
(Special to DemocraD.

Washington, March 23.-The bill to increase the pension of Benjamin F.. Gates of New London to $50 per month has been favorably reported ill the senate. Gates served in Go I. 26th Connecticut volunteers. The bill has already passed the house, having been introduced by MT Brandegee.
 The president has signed the bill to grant a pension of $24 per month to Lafayette M. Greene of Norwich.
 The postoffice department has issued an order to discontinue one round trip on Sundays between Hartford and West Hartford on the electric cars. The order goes into effect March 21.
 Congressman Sperry to-day present ed in the house petition from the Knights of St Patrick of New Haven, urging the passage of the bill to erect a monument of Commodore Barry. MT Sperry also went before the committee in relation to this bill, but found that the committee has not as yet set q day for hearings on it. As soon as they do, MT Sperry will urge the pass age of the bill. It's passage is being petitoned for from all over the coun' try.
 MT Sperry also presented petition from Warren Thomas Circle, Depart ment of Connecticut, Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republican, favor ing a service pension bill.
 While apparently all of West Ha- ven and most all of New Haven are excited over the Kimberly avenue bridge, and whether it should be torn down at once or not, everything at the war department is quiet enough 1n connection with this case. The atten' tion of the department ofnclals was called this morning to the intended visit of one or two of the West Haven sselectmen. but even that did not seem to stir up much enthusiasm on the subject in the department. As a mat ter of fact the officials do not qulte understand what is wanted now, nor what they are expected to do With the bridge. A request has already been made upon the secretary of war by the mayor of New Haven for an exten- sion of time in the construction of the bridge. This request has been re ferred to Major Powell at New Lon don, for his report. As yet the depart- ment has not heard from him. U IS presumed he will go into the question at some length, and will make his rec concentrations as to the removal or the old bridge as we'll as the building or fhe new. His recommendations will have considerable weight and Will probably be followed ill the man. me department will certainly not take any action until Major Powell makes ms report, and it would seem as though it might be better for the selectmen of West Haven to appeal to him to hurry up his report, before comInS l'i; down here. ..e secretary of war VII, not order the bridge blown up, ana will will in all probability give a reasonable extension of time for its construction.
 The senate has passed the bill au- thorizing the construction of new bridge over the Connecticut river be- tween Old Saybrook and Old Lyme, to be used exclusively as railroad bridge. and will be built by the New York, New Haven & Hartford Rail road company, although the plil pro yides that any other company may use the bridge, by paying rent for the same