too many idle processes

Hello: I am running pgsql on debian GNU/Linux woody box
to run "sourceforge" program. (http://www.freesoftware.fsf.org/debian-sf/)

Here is part of the /etc/postgresql/postgresql.conf:

---
debug_level = 0
log_connections = on
log_pid = on
log_timestamp = on
syslog = 2
# if syslog is 0, turn silent_mode off!
silent_mode = off
syslog_facility = LOCAL0
trace_notify = off
max_connections = 64
# shared_buffers must be at least twice max_connections, and not less than 16
shared_buffers = 128
# TCP/IP access is allowed by default, but the default access given in
# pg_hba.conf will permit it only from localhost, not other machines.
tcpip_socket = 1
---

But when I run "ps aux | grep sourceforge" to see if how many pgsql
processes are running, the numver reaches the maximum connections very quickly
even if only few users accesses it.
Access to the pgsql(7.2.1) is done by php(4.1.2) and web server
is apache(1.3.24).

The program uses "mysql_pconnect()" function but it seems something
prevents reusing the existing pgsql socket connection, hence the pgsql always
spawns a new process which then reaches the maximum connection possible.

1. Could anyone please give me a clue how to deal with this situation?

Recalling my previous MySQL experience, I had similar problem but
could cope with it by setting "wait_timeout" variable small which
kills idle process if it has been idle for that specified time.

2. Is there such configuration variable in pgsql?

Thanks very much....
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