Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-26
AT WASHINGTON
Davenport Talks for Cleve- land-.Middlebury Wants
 Rural Delivery.
Special to Democrat.l

| venport of Bridgeport, who is a prom 1nent figure around the Capitol and mas become known as the champion of the large interests opposed to the eight 1 hour bill and the anti-injunction bills, l talked politics last night During the ! course of the conversation he said: | Il Stumped the state of Connecticut l three times for Grover Cleveland and
 would be willing to try it once more
 do not believe there is the slightest doubt of the election of Mir Cleveland had the democratic party sense enough to make him it's unanimous choice. He 1 would, in my opinion, carry Connecti- cut as easily this year as he did in his former campaigns. The man who un- | derstands the eastern political situa- tion knows that thousands of good re i publ1cans stand ready to vote for l Cleveland. There is a feeling that a man of his precise caliber, tempera- ment and experience is especially need ed at this juncture in our national his l tory.''
 At the hearing before the house con- mittee on labor this morning on the eight hour bill, James O'ConnelI, the president of the International Machin- ists' union, challenged the statement made. in a previous argument by MT 1 Bridgeport had not endorsed the pro- posed law. MT O'Connell produced resolutions adopted by nineteen unions of that city in favor of the proposition, | but MT Davenport declared that only fhirty-three men were present. in all
 MT Gompers asked, but failed to se- cure from MT Davenport the name of his informant, and the incident was closed.
 The president has just notified Sen | ator Hawley that the sentence of George H. Prentice of New Britain has been remitted and he has been re leased from military prison. This is very peculiar and worthy case, and l Senator Hawley interested himself in 1 this young man some time ago. Prem tice served during the Spanish-Ameri- can war in the Thirteenth U. Sl in fantry. When his first enlistment ex- 1 plred his regiment was in the Philip | pines, and he was asked to forego the furlough allowed him under the law until the return of the regiment to the
 United States. Thereupon frentice took French leave and visited his people in New Britain, his mother being very ill at the time. In 1903 he I returned to his regiment and gave himself up voluntarily. He was court martialed and sentenced to be dishon- orably discharged, to forfeit all pay and allowance, and be confined in mil itary prison for eighteen months. Un- der the peculiar circumstances of the l case an effort will be made to have him granted an honorable discharge. 1 Many petitions have been received | by members of congress from labor unions against the eight hour b. l, but Senator HaWley to-day received new kind. It comes from the Central La bor union of Waterbury, and Is not against the eight hour bill direct, but | against the opposition to the bill, and also against the opposition to the anti l injunction bill. Senator Platt present l ed the resolution for Senator Hawley I Congressman Sperry to-day lodged with the postoffice department a peti- 1 ton asking for rural free delivery at Middlebury. This petition is the work of a committee appointed Dy a town meeting of the citizens of Middlebury, | who are not satisfied with the present service. It is now proposed to have a route start from the Middlebury post | office, covering about twenty miles of the town, which includes all that part 1 not already covered by rural free de- livery from Naugatuck and Water bury. There are several routes from other towns that encroach upon this territory and this plan has been adopt ed to retain the Middlebury postoffice.
 Congressman Henry today presented in the house report on the bill intro duced by Congressman Adams for in- creased appropriations for agricultural experiment stations. The increase pro- yided for is $5,O00 additional to each station for the first year, and $2OOO for o@ five years until the total increase shall amount to $15,O0O annually to each station.
 The present appropriation for expert- ment stations is $15,OOO to each sta- tion, and forty-eight states have taken advantage of the law and get this amount. The report shows the work these stations are doing and that no additional appropriations have been made during the seventeen years the stations have been established. The increase could be used protitably by all the stations. but would be of spe- cial benefit to the southern and west ern states. This government spends less money for encouragement of agri- culture in proportion to its area and population than any European nation, with the exception of Spain.
 The passage of the bill is strongly urged by the committee on agriculture
 The president has sent to the senate for confirmation the names of George w. Randall, to be postmaster of Rock vile, and of Charles T. Welch, to be postmaster at Windsor. Both are re- appointments. Postmaster Randall, who is visiting in Washington, hap pened to be in the senate gallery when his nomination came in.
 Comptroller William E. Seeley of Bridgeport and wife are at the Coch- ran, on their way home from visit in the south. Other Connecticut visitors are: Hon Allan W, Paige of Bridge port and W. E. F. Norris of Water bury.