The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-04-24
San Francisco Relief Fund is
 Raised to S1,5OO,OO0
MIR. LAFOLLETTE SPEAKS
Closes His Address on Railroad Rate Bill-ls Warmly Congratulated On the Floor of the
 Senate.


 day increased to $1,5o0,Ooo the second ap- propriation of funds in behalf of the suf- ferers from the California earthquake, ! and this legislation, like all Sf the same character that has preceded, was enacted without comment of any kind. The day marked the conclusion of MT. Lafolette' s l speech on the railroad rate bill He oe- cuped the greater part Of the time to- day as he had done on Saturday render ing it one of the longest speeches in re- cent years in the senate.
 The bill providing for the organization of a dental corps in the army was passed, and the Indian appropriation was under consideration later in the day.
 Approaching the close of his speech, MT. Lafollette said:
 "This extended review of the evidence of increasing rates and vicious dscrlmi- nation, of the methods of railroad building over capitalization and reckless specula- tion all demonstrate the necessity of the valuation of railroad property as the end of basis for securing to the people of this country just and reasonable rates. Before this bill becomes law. I trust that the amendment. which I shall offer, or some better one. would be incor- porated. making full and complete provs- ion at an early date for the true valua- tion of all the railroad property of the United State.
 Commission Only Tribunal.
 ''When it is remembered that the com missions only tribunal that stands be- tween the railroads and the public; that the power conferred upon the commission is the power of congress itself; that the commission really represents the govern ment of the United States; does not the proposed law seem to fall short of a just and comprehensive treatment of q great subject of legislation?
 q would not be unfair. The bill has neither ill-intent nor high purposes. Ex- pediency seems to have been the controll- ing factor in framing it.
 During this debate there has been much talk about the country having 'hysteria.' Magazine writers and press correspondents have been denounced, and there seems to be an agreement that they are to be pursued and discredited lest they lodge in the unpopular mind wrongful estimate of the public service
 Tt does not lie in the power of any or all of the magazines of the country or of the press-great as it is-to destroy without justification, the confidence of the people in the American congress. Neither can any man on earth, whatever his po- siton or power alter the settled convle- tion of the intelligent citizenship of this country, when it is grounded on fact and experience. It rests solely with the United States Senate to fix and maintain it's own reputation for fidelity to public trust. 1t will be judged by the record
 "Jaundiced Journalism"
 Tt cannot repose in security upon it's exalted position and the glorious hert- ages of it's traditions. It Is worse than folly to feel, or to profess to feel indf- ferent with respect to public judgment If public confidence is wanting in the con gress it is not of nasty growth, it is not the product of jaundiced journalism It is the result of years of disappointment and defeat. It is the outgrowth of a quarter of century of keen, discr1mi- hating study of public questions, public records and the lives of public men. Our responsibility is great, our duty Is plain" Mir Lafollette concluded at 355 D. m There was some applause in the galleries, but it was, as usual, quickly suppressed by the chair
 A number of his colleagues gathered around Mir. Lafollette and congratulated him. The railroad rate bill was tempo rarily laid aside, and the conference re- port on the bill providing for the elec- ton of q delegate in congress from Alaska was then taken up and passed without discussion.
 The discussion of the Indian aDDro- pration bill begun several days ago was resumed, but without concluding it, the senate, at 5:07 p. m., went into executive session, and at 5:15 p. m. adjourned.