40th Wisconsin Legislature

The Fortieth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 14, 1891, to April 25, 1891, in regular session.[1] They met again for two special sessions in June 1892 and October 1892 to pass redistricting laws. The extra sessions were necessitated by court cases which threw out the Legislature's previous attempts at redistricting. The final redistricting act was signed just 12 days before the 1892 general election.

40th Wisconsin Legislature
←39th 41st→
Wisconsin State Capitol, 1887
Overview
Legislative bodyWisconsin Legislature
Meeting placeWisconsin State Capitol
TermJanuary 5, 1891 – January 2, 1893
ElectionNovember 4, 1890
Senate
Members33
Senate PresidentCharles Jonas (D)
President pro temporeFrederick W. Horn (D)
Party controlDemocratic
Assembly
Members100
Assembly SpeakerJames J. Hogan (D)
Party controlDemocratic
Sessions
1stJanuary 14, 1891 – April 25, 1891
Special sessions
1892 Spec. 1June 28, 1892 – July 1, 1892
1892 Spec. 2October 17, 1892 – October 27, 1892

This was the first session where the Democratic Party had full control of the Legislature since 1854.

Senators representing odd-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first two years of a four-year term. Assembly members were elected to a two-year term. Assembly members and odd-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 4, 1890. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 6, 1888.[1]

Major events

Major legislation

Regular session
  • February 5, 1891: An Act to repeal chapter 519, of the laws of the state of Wisconsin for the year 1889, entitled, "An act concerning the education and employment of children." 1891 Act 4. Repealed the entire "Bennett Law" due to its provision requiring English language education.
  • April 25, 1891: An Act to apportion the state into senate and assembly districts, 1891 Act 482. First attempt to pass a legislative redistricting. This law was struck down by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in March 1892.
  • April 25, 1891: An Act to apportion the state into congressional districts, 1891 Act 483.
  • Joint resolution agreeing to a proposed amendment to sub-division 9, of section 31, of article IV of the constitution of the state of Wisconsin, 1891 Joint Resolution 4. This was the required second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to prohibit the Legislature from making private laws affecting specific city charters. The amendment was ratified by referendum at the November 1892 general election.

First special session
  • July 1, 1892: An Act to apportion the state of Wisconsin into senate and assembly districts, 1892 Special Session 1 Act 1. This was the second attempt to pass a legislative redistricting. This map was also struck down by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, in September 1892.

Second special session
  • October 27, 1892: An Act to apportion the state of Wisconsin into senate and assembly districts, 1892 Special Session 2 Act 1. This was the third and final attempt to pass a legislative redistricting based on the 1890 U.S. census. This map was utilized for the 1892 election, held just 12 days after the law was signed.
  • October 27, 1892: An Act relating to the general election to be held on the eighth day of November, in the year 1892, and to notices thereof and nominations therefor, and for other purposes, 1892 Special Session 2 Act 2. Due to the lateness of the legislative redistricting, it was necessary to clarify the status of existing nominees for the legislature and create special procedures for candidates to get on the ballot for the November 1892 general election.

Party summary

Senate summary
Senate partisan composition
  Democratic: 19 seats
  Republican: 14 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Dem. Lab. Ind. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 6 2 1 24 33 0
Start of 1st Session 18 0 0 15 33 0
From Feb. 4, 1891[note 1] 19 14 33 0
From Nov. 15, 1891[note 2] 18 32 1
From May 30, 1892[note 3] 19 33 0
Final voting share 57.58% 42.42%
Beginning of the next Legislature 26 0 0 7 33 0

Assembly summary
Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 66 seats
  Labor: 1 seat
  Republican: 33 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
 Total
Dem. Lab. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 29 0 71 100 0
1st Session 66 1 33 100 0
From Mar. 11, 1891[note 4] 65 99 1
From Dec. 8, 1891[note 5] 32 98 2
Final voting share 67.35% 32.65%
Beginning of the next Legislature 55 0 45 100 0

Sessions
  • 1st Regular session: January 14, 1891 – April 25, 1891
  • 1892 special session 1: June 28, 1892 – July 1, 1892
  • 1892 special session 2: October 17, 1892 – October 27, 1892

Leaders

Senate leadership

Assembly leadership

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Fortieth Wisconsin Legislature:[4]

Senate partisan representation
  Democratic: 19 seats
  Republican: 14 seats
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party
01 Door, Marinette, & Oconto Edward Scofield (until Feb. 4, 1891) Oconto Rep.
John Fetzer (from Feb. 4, 1891) Forestville Dem.
02 Brown & Calumet Enos W. Persons De Pere Dem.
03 Racine Adam Apple Norway Dem.
04 Milwaukee (City North) John J. Kempf Milwaukee Rep.
05 Milwaukee (City Center) Paul Bechtner Milwaukee Rep.
06 Milwaukee (City South) Herman Kroeger Milwaukee Dem.
07 Milwaukee (County) Christian A. Koenitzer Milwaukee Dem.
08 Kenosha & Walworth James C. Reynolds Lake Geneva Rep.
09 Green Lake, Portage, Waushara, & western Marathon Ferdinand T. Yahr Princeton Dem.
10 Pierce & St. Croix William H. Phipps Hudson Rep.
11 Ashland, Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Price, & Taylor John T. Kingston Ashland Dem.
12 Green & Lafayette Phineas Clawson Monroe Rep.
13 Dodge William Voss Watertown Dem.
14 Juneau & Sauk Frank Avery Baraboo Rep.
15 Kewaunee & Manitowoc William F. Nash Two Rivers Dem.
16 Crawford & Grant Edward I. Kidd Prairie du Chien Rep.
17 Rock Richard Burdge Beloit Rep.
18 Fond du Lac (Western Part) Samuel B. Stanchfield Fond du Lac Rep.
19 Winnebago (Except Manasha) George W. Pratt Oshkosh Dem.
20 Sheboygan & Eastern Fond du Lac Major C. Mead Plymouth Dem.
21 Shawano, Waupaca, & eastern Marathon Joseph H. Woodnorth Waupaca Dem.
22 Calumet & Outagamie William Kennedy Appleton Dem.
23 Jefferson & western Waukesha Walter S. Greene (Died Nov. 15, 1891) Fort Atkinson Dem.
Albert Solliday (From May 30, 1892) Watertown Dem.
24 Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, Sawyer, & Washburn Charles S. Taylor Barron Rep.
25 Clark & Eau Claire Robert MacBride Neillsville Dem.
26 Dane Willett Main Madison Rep.
27 Adams, Columbia & Marquette Russell C. Falconer Portage Dem.
28 Iowa & Richland Robert Joiner Wyoming Rep.
29 Buffalo, Trempealeau, & Pepin Robert Lees Alma Dem.
30 Chippewa & Dunn William Millar Red Cedar Rep.
31 La Crosse & Vernon Henry Conner Viroqua Dem.
32 Jackson, Monroe, & Wood Hugh H. Price Black River Falls Rep.
33 Ozaukee, Washington, & eastern Waukesha Frederick W. Horn Cedarburg Dem.

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Fortieth Wisconsin Legislature:[4]

Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 66 seats
  Labor: 1 seat
  Republican: 33 seats
Milwaukee County districts
Senate
District		 County Dist. Representative Party Residence
27 Adams & Marquette Clarence V. Peirce Rep. Shields
11 Ashland, Florence, Forest, Oneida, & Price Louis Rossmann Rep. Phillips
24 Barron Charles W. Moore Rep. Chetek
Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Sawyer, & Washburn Lewis H. Mead Rep. Shell Lake
02 Brown 1 Albert L. Gray Dem. Fort Howard
2 Robert J. McGeehan Dem. De Pere
29 Buffalo John Leonhardy Dem. Alma
02 Calumet William V. McMullen Dem. Brillion
30 Chippewa James A. Taylor Dem. Chippewa Falls
25 Clark Phillip Rossman (Died Dec. 8, 1891) Rep. Greenwood
--Vacant--
27 Columbia 1 Clinton E. Smith Dem. Randolph
2 Lewis H. Smith Rep. Arlington
16 Crawford Ambrose Thompson Dem. Seneca
26 Dane 1 Harry E. Briggs Dem. Madison
2 Christian Reuter Dem. Roxbury
3 Joseph R. Henderson Dem. Springdale
4 William H. Porter Rep. Medina
13 Dodge 1 Michael E. Burke Dem. Beaver Dam
2 Bennett E. Sampson Dem. Oakfield
3 William S. Schwefel Dem. Lebanon
01 Door Charles M. Whiteside Dem. Sawyer
30 Dunn Albert R. Hall Rep. Knapp
25 Eau Claire 1 William T. Pugh Rep. Eau Claire
2 Oscar Finch Dem. Augusta
18 Fond du Lac 1 Frank Bowe Dem. Rosendale
2 James W. Watson Dem. Fond du Lac
20 3 James Bannon Dem. New Cassel
16 Grant 1 John Longbotham Rep. Paris
2 John J. Oswald Dem. Lancaster
3 Christopher Hinn Dem. Fennimore
12 Green & Lafayette 1 Henry Putnam Rep. Brodhead
2 Charles F. Osborn Rep. Darlington
3 Charles J. Meloy Dem. Shullsburg
09 Green Lake E. C. Smith Dem. Markesan
28 Iowa 1 Robert M. Crawford Dem. Mineral Point
2 Edmund Baker Dem. Linden
32 Jackson James J. McGillivray Rep. Black River Falls
23 Jefferson 1 C. Hugo Jacobi Dem. Watertown
2 Joseph Stoppenbach Dem. Jefferson
14 Juneau Joseph W. Babcock Rep. Necedah
08 Kenosha Robert S. Houston Dem. Pleasant Prairie
15 Kewaunee & Manitowoc 1 Patrick J. Conway Dem. Meeme
2 James P. Nolan Dem. Maple Grove
3 William Croll Dem. Manitowoc
4 Joseph Filz Dem. Luxemburg
31 La Crosse 1 James J. Hogan Dem. La Crosse
2 John Dawson Dem. La Crosse
11 Langlade, Lincoln, & Taylor Clinton Textor Dem. Medford
09 Marathon 1 Thomas O'Connor Dem. Emmet
21 2 Neal Brown Dem. Wausau
01 Marinette James Larsin Lab. Menekaunee
04 Milwaukee 1 Humphrey J. Desmond Dem. Milwaukee
05 2 William J. Fiebrantz Rep. Milwaukee
06 3 Edward Keogh Dem. Milwaukee
05 4 Orren T. Williams Rep. Milwaukee
06 5 Conrad Krez Dem. Milwaukee
04 6 William Pierron Rep. Milwaukee
05 7 Charles H. Anson Rep. Milwaukee
07 8 Henry Schuetz Dem. Milwaukee
04 9 Philip Schmitz Dem. Milwaukee
07 10 John Horn Dem. Milwaukee
11 Ambrose McGuigan Dem. Milwaukee
06 12 Michał Kruszka Dem. Milwaukee
32 Monroe 1 David W. Cheney Dem. Sparta
2 James Tormey Dem. Tomah
01 Oconto Lewis S. Bailey Dem. Oconto
22 Outagamie 1 John Tracy Dem. Appleton
2 Theodore Knapstein Dem. New London
33 Ozaukee William H. Fitzgerald Dem. Cedarburg
29 Pepin William E. Plummer Rep. Durand
10 Pierce Daniel J. Dill Rep. Prescott
24 Polk Henry B. Dike Rep. Osceola
09 Portage Charles Couch Dem. Amherst
03 Racine Joshua E. Dodge Dem. Racine
28 Richland Jay G. Lamberson Rep. Buena Vista
17 Rock 1 Ole P. Gaarder Rep. Orfordville
2 John Winans Dem. Janesville
3 Henry Tarrant Rep. La Prairie
14 Sauk 1 Thomas W. English Dem. Freedom
2 Henry C. Hunt Dem. Reedsburg
21 Shawano & Waupaca 1 Alfred R. Lea Dem. Waupaca
2 David Jennings Dem. Mukwa
3 Otto O. Wiegand Dem. Shawano
20 Sheboygan 1 Dennis T. Phalen Dem. Sheboygan
2 Allen F. Warden Dem. Plymouth
3 Alvah R. Munger Rep. Scott
10 St. Croix George W. Chinnock Rep. River Falls
29 Trempealeau Michael J. Warner Dem. Hale
31 Vernon 1 Brown Olson Rep. Christiana
2 Edgar Eno Rep. Forest
08 Walworth 1 Fernando C. Kizer Rep. Whitewater
2 Joseph S. Maxon Rep. Walworth
33 Washington August Konrad Dem Hartford
Waukesha 1 Ernest Bullard Dem. Waukesha
23 2 Omar L. Rosenkrans Rep. Oconomowoc
09 Waushara Cornelius A. Davenport Rep. Aurora
19 Winnebago 1 Gustav S. Luscher Dem. Oshkosh
2 Samuel A. Cook Rep. Neenah
3 William F. Faber Dem. Oshkosh
32 Wood John Edwards (died Mar. 11, 1891) Dem. Port Edwards
--Vacant--

Committees

Senate committees
  • Senate Committee on Agriculture – Adam Apple, chair
  • Senate Committee on Assessment and Collection of Taxes – Frederick W. Horn, chair
  • Senate Committee on Education – Russel C. Falconer, chair
  • Senate Committee on Enrolled Bills – William F. Voss, chair
  • Senate Committee on Engrossed Bills – F. T. Yahr, chair
  • Senate Committee on Federal Relations – Robert J. MacBride, chair
  • Senate Committee on Finance, Banks, and Insurance – Enos W. Persons, chair
  • Senate Committee on Incorporations – Robert J. MacBride, chair
  • Senate Committee on the Judiciary – William Kennedy, chair
  • Senate Committee on Legislative Expenditures – Henry Conner, chair
  • Senate Committee on Manufacturing and Commerce – Herman Kroeger, chair
  • Senate Committee on Military Affairs – J. H. Woodnorth, chair
  • Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections – Robert Lees, chair
  • Senate Committee on Public Lands – George W. Pratt, chair
  • Senate Committee on Railroads – Walter S. Greene, chair
  • Senate Committee on Roads and Bridges – John Fetzer, chair
  • Senate Committee on State Affairs – George W. Pratt, chair
  • Senate Committee on Town and County Organizations – John T. Kingston, chair

Assembly committees
  • Assembly Committee on Agriculture – John Dawson, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Assessment and Collection of Taxes – J. E. Dodge, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Bills on their Third Reading – H. E. Briggs, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Cities – Dennis T. Phalen, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Education – H. J. Desmond, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Engrossed Bills – C. Hugo Jacobi, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Enrolled Bills – J. Tormey, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Federal Relations – Clinton Textor, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Incorporations – R. J. McGeehan, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Insurance, Banks, and Banking – Gustave S. Luscher, chair
  • Assembly Committee on the Judiciary – John Winans, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Legislative Expenditures – M. E. Burke, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Labor and Manufactures – A. McGuigan, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Lumber and Mining – James A. Taylor, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Medical Societies – E. L. Bullard, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Militia – John J. Oswald, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Privileges and Elections – J. P. Nolan, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Public Improvements – W. H. Fitzgerald, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Public Lands – Conrad Krez, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Railroads – Edward Keogh, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Roads and Bridges – E. C. Smith, chair
  • Assembly Committee on State Affairs – J. W. Watson, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Town and County Organization – Theo. Knapstein, chair
  • Assembly Committee on Ways and Means – John Edwards, chair

Joint committees
  • Joint Committee on Apportionment – W. S. Greene (Sen.) & John Winans (Asm.), co-chairs
  • Joint Committee on Charitable and Penal Institutions – M. C. Mead (Sen.) & Neal Brown (Asm.), co-chairs
  • Joint Committee on Claims – W. F. Nash (Sen.) & R. M. Crawford (Asm.), co-chairs
  • Joint Committee on Printing – C. A. Koenitzer (Sen.) & W. V. McMullen (Asm.), co-chairs
  • Joint Committee on Retrenchment – Robert Lees (Sen.) & J. E. Dodge (Asm.), co-chairs

Employees

Senate employees
  • Chief Clerk: Jon P. Hume[5]
    • Assistant Chief Clerk: Sam J. Shafer
      • Assistant Clerk: Jackson Silbaugh
    • Bookkeeper: Edward Malone
    • Engrossing Clerk: L. S. Truesdell
      • Assistant Engrossing Clerk: M. P. Persons
    • Enrolling Clerk: Jno G. Faulds
      • Assistant Enrolling Clerk: H. F. Gustavus
    • Transcribing Clerk: C. M. Gardner
      • Assistant Transcribing Clerks:
        • Hugo Imig
        • Agnes Muller
    • Proofreader: E. R. Petherick
    • Index Clerk: Cora Cornish
    • Clerk for the Judiciary Committee: Frank T. Smith
    • Clerk for the Committee on Incorporations: Joseph Sims
    • Clerk for the Committee on Claims: David C. Gowdey
    • Clerk for the Committee on Engrossed Bills: F. J. Collignon
    • Clerk for the Committee on Enrolled Bills: B. A. Weatherby
    • Clerk for the Committee on Charitable and Penal Institutions: Amy Robinson
    • Document Clerk: Fred Herrmann
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: John A. Barney
    • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: W. H. Putnam
  • Postmaster: Peter Spehn
    • Assistant Postmaster: George McHenry
  • Gallery Attendant: Tobias Jacobson
  • Document Room Attendant: James P. Evans
  • Committee Room Attendants:
    • Louis Birlman
    • Farrel Golden
  • Comparing Clerks:
    • A. G. Pankow
    • Oscar Osthelder
  • Doorkeepers:
    • H. B. Loy
    • R. Tuttle
    • Jacob Staumes
    • M. Riedy
  • Porter: Peter Blair
  • Night Watch: L. J. Pringel
  • Janitor: Fred Brandt
  • Custodian of the Enrolling Room: L. F. Terhune
  • Custodian of the Engrossing Room: E. M. Keogh
  • Night Laborer: John D. Fay
  • Messengers:
    • Tom Kingston
    • J. E. Taylor
    • Berthold Husting
    • John Manchester
    • Ben Richmond
    • Al De Boise
    • Warren Persons
    • James Raymen
    • R. MacBride
    • Fred Klenert

Assembly employees
  • Chief Clerk: G. W. Porth[5]
    • 1st Assistant Clerk: W. L. Houser
      • 2nd Assistant Clerk: E. D. Doney
    • Bookkeeper: J. T. Huntington
    • Engrossing Clerk: William F. Collins
      • Assistant Engrossing Clerk: James Pennefeather
    • Enrolling Clerk: A. Goerz
    • Transcribing Clerk: C. H. Tenney
      • Assistant Transcribing Clerks:
        • George Silbernagel
        • Daniel F. O'Keefe
    • Index Clerk: Charles A. Leicht
    • Stationary Clerk: C. E. Moseley
    • Comparing Clerks:
      • A. F. Campbell
      • J. F. Cotter
    • Clerk for the Judiciary Committee: F. C. Burpee
    • Clerk for the Committee on Enrolled Bills: William Boyington
    • Clerk for the Committee on Engrossed Bills: Julius Gamm
    • Clerk for the Committee on Agriculture: C. H. Lambert
    • Clerk for the Committee on Third Reading: Edward L. Hardy
    • Clerk for the Committee on Railroads: Ed. S. Quinn
    • Clerk for the Committee on Town and County Organization: Edw. Pape
    • Document Clerk: Ulrich Wetstein
    • Custodian of the Enrolling Room: Geirge Reinsch
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: P. Whalen
    • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Eugene Courtney
  • Postmaster: J. A. Venus
    • Assistant Postmaster: Holmes Daubner
  • Doorkeepers:
    • John O'Keif
    • Frank Boyer
    • P. H. McClean
    • Ira F. Kilmer
  • General Attendant: Louis Scheller
  • Gallery Attendants:
    • Albert Stoppenbach
    • G. W. Brower
    • Louis Scheller
  • Committee Room Attendants:
    • Charles Kache
    • William Vliet
    • J. Lonzo
  • Document Room Attendant: John W. Liebenstein
  • Porter: Joseph Stanton
  • Flagman: S. G. Pelkey
  • Night Watch: Charles Gutman
  • Wash Room Attendant: J. F. Hartel
  • Coat Room Attendant: William Murphy
    • Assistant Coat Room Attendant: P. C. Eliott
  • Janitor: T. Kavanaugh
  • Messengers:
    • Archie McCoy
    • Otto Gartner
    • Arthur Gardner
    • August Krueger
    • Everett Monohan
    • Ed Fitzgerald
    • George Haganah
    • Frank Coughlin
    • James Whitty
    • John Gray
    • Louis Oyen
    • Alven Erickson

Notes
  1. Democrat John Fetzer won an election challenge to unseat Edward Scofield (District 1).
  2. Democrat Walter S. Greene (District 23) died.
  3. Democrat Albert Solliday (District 23) replaced Walter S. Greene.
  4. Democrat John Edwards (Wood County) died.
  5. Republican Phillip Rossman (Clark County) died.

References
  1. Barish, Lawrence S.; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2011). "Statistics: History" (PDF). State of Wisconsin 2011–2012 Blue Book (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 709, 714, 717, 719. ISBN 978-0-9752820-1-4. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
  2. State ex rel. Attorney General v. Cunningam, 81 Wis. 440 (Wisconsin Supreme Court March 22, 1892).
  3. State ex rel. Lamb v. Cunningham, 83 Wis. 90 (Wisconsin Supreme Court September 27, 1892).
  4. Cunningham, Thomas J., ed. (1891). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 575–606. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  5. Cunningham, ed. (1891). "The judiciary, United States government, state government, miscellaneous state societies, etc." (PDF). The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 561–567. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
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