40th Wisconsin Legislature

The Fortieth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session. 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.

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.

Major events

* January 5, 1891: Inauguration of George Wilbur Peck as the 17th Governor of Wisconsin.
* January 28, 1891: William Freeman Vilas elected United States Senator by the Wisconsin Legislature in joint session.
* April 3, 1891: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice David Taylor died in office.
* April 7, 1891: Silas U. Pinney was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to the seat being vacated by the retirement of Orsamus Cole.
* May 4, 1891: John B. Winslow was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Governor George Wilbur Peck, to replace David Taylor.
* August 17, 1891: The French Republic and Russian Empire formed a defensive alliance.
* January 4, 1892: As the senior-most member of the court, William P. Lyon became the 7th chief justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court due to the retirement of Orsamus Cole. He was the first chief justice to obtain the office under the new amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution ratified in 1889.
* March 22, 1892: The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the redistricting law passed by the Legislature, in the case ''State ex rel. Attorney General v. Cunningam''.
* September 27, 1892: The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the second redistricting law passed by the Legislature, in the case ''State ex rel. Lamb v. Cunningham''.
* November 8, 1892: 1892 United States general election:
** Grover Cleveland elected President of the United States for a second non-consecutive term.
** George Wilbur Peck re-elected as Governor of Wisconsin.

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

Assembly summary

Sessions

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

Leaders

Senate leadership

* President of the Senate: Charles Jonas ( D)
* President pro tempore: Frederick W. Horn ( D)

Assembly leadership

* Speaker of the Assembly: James J. Hogan ( D)

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Fortieth Wisconsin Legislature:

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Fortieth Wisconsin Legislature:

Committees

Senate committees

* Senate Committee on AgricultureAdam Apple, chair
* Senate Committee on Assessment and Collection of TaxesFrederick W. Horn, chair
* Senate Committee on EducationRussel C. Falconer, chair
* Senate Committee on Enrolled BillsWilliam F. Voss, chair
* Senate Committee on Engrossed BillsF. T. Yahr, chair
* Senate Committee on Federal RelationsRobert J. MacBride, chair
* Senate Committee on Finance, Banks, and InsuranceEnos W. Persons, chair
* Senate Committee on IncorporationsRobert J. MacBride, chair
* Senate Committee on the JudiciaryWilliam Kennedy, chair
* Senate Committee on Legislative ExpendituresHenry Conner, chair
* Senate Committee on Manufacturing and CommerceHerman Kroeger, chair
* Senate Committee on Military AffairsJ. H. Woodnorth, chair
* Senate Committee on Privileges and ElectionsRobert Lees, chair
* Senate Committee on Public LandsGeorge W. Pratt, chair
* Senate Committee on RailroadsWalter S. Greene, chair
* Senate Committee on Roads and BridgesJohn Fetzer, chair
* Senate Committee on State AffairsGeorge W. Pratt, chair
* Senate Committee on Town and County OrganizationsJohn T. Kingston, chair

Assembly committees

* Assembly Committee on AgricultureJohn Dawson, chair
* Assembly Committee on Assessment and Collection of TaxesJ. E. Dodge, chair
* Assembly Committee on Bills on their Third ReadingH. E. Briggs, chair
* Assembly Committee on CitiesDennis T. Phalen, chair
* Assembly Committee on EducationH. J. Desmond, chair
* Assembly Committee on Engrossed BillsC. Hugo Jacobi, chair
* Assembly Committee on Enrolled BillsJ. Tormey, chair
* Assembly Committee on Federal RelationsClinton Textor, chair
* Assembly Committee on IncorporationsR. J. McGeehan, chair
* Assembly Committee on Insurance, Banks, and BankingGustave S. Luscher, chair
* Assembly Committee on the JudiciaryJohn Winans, chair
* Assembly Committee on Legislative ExpendituresM. E. Burke, chair
* Assembly Committee on Labor and ManufacturesA. McGuigan, chair
* Assembly Committee on Lumber and MiningJames A. Taylor, chair
* Assembly Committee on Medical SocietiesE. L. Bullard, chair
* Assembly Committee on MilitiaJohn J. Oswald, chair
* Assembly Committee on Privileges and ElectionsJ. P. Nolan, chair
* Assembly Committee on Public ImprovementsW. H. Fitzgerald, chair
* Assembly Committee on Public LandsConrad Krez, chair
* Assembly Committee on RailroadsEdward Keogh, chair
* Assembly Committee on Roads and BridgesE. C. Smith, chair
* Assembly Committee on State AffairsJ. W. Watson, chair
* Assembly Committee on Town and County OrganizationTheo. Knapstein, chair
* Assembly Committee on Ways and MeansJohn Edwards, chair

Joint committees

* Joint Committee on ApportionmentW. S. Greene (Sen.) & John Winans (Asm.), co-chairs
* Joint Committee on Charitable and Penal InstitutionsM. C. Mead (Sen.) & Neal Brown (Asm.), co-chairs
* Joint Committee on ClaimsW. F. Nash (Sen.) & R. M. Crawford (Asm.), co-chairs
* Joint Committee on PrintingC. A. Koenitzer (Sen.) & W. V. McMullen (Asm.), co-chairs
* Joint Committee on RetrenchmentRobert Lees (Sen.) & J. E. Dodge (Asm.), co-chairs

Employees

Senate employees

* Chief Clerk: Jon P. Hume
** 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
** 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
*** Assistant Enrolling Clerk: Edward E. Fitzgibbon
** 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

References

External links

1891: Related Documents
from Wisconsin Legislature

{{Wisconsin legislatures

1891 in Wisconsin
1892 in Wisconsin
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