Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-27
The Sibley Case.

The recent flibustering in the national
House OF Representatives and the efforts
On the one side TO count quorum and
on the other TO break quorum recall
the fact that Mr.. Sibley. OF Pennsylva-
MIA, holds his seat by sufferance. Indeed.
II II should happen that there were l'9
votes Ga quorum present Including MS,
and only l7s dess than a quorum ex-
Guiding his. and some member should
raise a question MS 10 his right even TO
be present I'm the House OF Representa-
tives, the result might be a disclosure OF
the fact that Mr.. Sibley is rightfully,
10 use Speaker Bialne's language. nothing
more than a spectator in the gallery.
The Springfield (Mass) Republican Is
the only northern paper in which we nave
seen the facts OF the Sibloy case stated
and discussed. That paper restates the
presidents as we have heretofore gwen
them. and argues that 80 far as 'hese
presidents apply 20 Sibiey's case tney
count against his right to hold his seat
IN the House OF Representatives until he
has been reelected.
IL will be reco!lected that Mr.. Sioiey
sent his resignation as a member OF the
House Of Representatives to the Governor
Of Pennsylvania, his State, but supse-
ouently went to Harrisburg ana was there
induced TO withdraw IT, or at least at
tempt 10 withdraw IT, and has ever since
been acting as a member. The Washins-
ton Post cited authorities enough 10 set''e
the question beyond doubt that II IL
could be proven that Mr.. Sibley ever re-
signed his seat he could no longer hoid
his seat in the House of Representatives.
We suppose the fact could be ESTABLISHED
by the testimony OF Governor Pattison'
TO whom ne sent his letter. But what Is
everybody's business Is nobodys busihe5s'
and so Mr.. Sibley goes on voting ana
speaking i'm and to body In which ne
is no more than spectator in the gar
lery." However whenever he shall give
a vote which win be needed In order TO
make up n quorum some way may De
found of keeping that vote from being
counted. or at any rate of fixing 1t more
CLEARLY I'm the official mind. 20 quote the
SIiIuplifli ifpu'iN"H i""b""b'' WV
ther or not n resignation takes effect upon
pr,sentation or only upon its acceptance
by the authority TO whom ( is ad-
dressed"
But TO recognize the right OF Governor
Pattison to refuse to accept Mr.. SIb-
ley:s resignation would be to make the
Governor Of Pennsylvania n judge as
to who are members and who are not
members Of the National House Of
Representatives.. Nay more; 1t would
empower Governor Pattlson to lake o
hand In making up quorum in that
lody, seeing that on Mr. Sibley's one
vote may at any time turn the ques-
tiOn whether there is or Is not quo
rum present OF tho House.
However. Mr. Sibley has AT least
color Of title 20 membership In the
House and all his official acts would.
If questioned. be recognized as valid
at least until the House of Representa-
tives had decided the question as to
his title. This is what the House does
in unseating a member because his
competitor establishes the fact That The
contestant and not the cCltestee was
elected by the people. Nevertheless.
the question under consideration Is one
that ought not TO be left open.