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.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Democrat George Wilbur Peck, of Milwaukee County, serving a two-year term, having won election in the 1890 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

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 elections|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." . 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, . 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, .
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, . 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, . 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, . 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, . 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.

Sessions

1st Regular session: January 14, 1891April 25, 18911892 special session 1: June 28, 1892July 1, 18921892 special session 2: October 17, 1892October 27, 1892

Leaders

Senate leadership

President of the Senate: Charles Jonas
President pro tempore: Frederick W. Horn

Assembly leadership

Speaker of the Assembly: James J. Hogan

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Fortieth Wisconsin Legislature:

Dist.	Counties	Senator	Residence	Party
01	Door, Marinette,		Oconto	Rep.
01	Door, Marinette,		Forestville	Dem.
02	Brown		De Pere	Dem.
03	Racine		Norway	Dem.
04	Milwaukee		Milwaukee	Rep.
05	Milwaukee		Milwaukee	Rep.
06	Milwaukee		Milwaukee	Dem.
07	Milwaukee		Milwaukee	Dem.
08	Kenosha & Walworth		Lake Geneva	Rep.
09	Green Lake, Portage, Waushara,		Princeton	Dem.
10	Pierce		Hudson	Rep.
11	Ashland, Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Price,		Ashland	Dem.
12	Green & Lafayette		Monroe	Rep.
13	Dodge		Watertown	Dem.
14	Juneau & Sauk		Baraboo	Rep.
15	Kewaunee		Two Rivers	Dem.
16	Crawford		Prairie du Chien	Rep.
17	Rock		Beloit	Rep.
18			Fond du Lac	Rep.
19	Winnebago		Oshkosh	Dem.
20	Sheboygan		Plymouth	Dem.
21	Shawano, Waupaca,		Waupaca	Dem.
22	Calumet & Outagamie		Appleton	Dem.
23	Jefferson		Fort Atkinson	Dem.
23	Jefferson		Watertown	Dem.
24	Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, Sawyer,		Barron	Rep.
25	Clark		Neillsville	Dem.
26	Dane		Madison	Rep.
27	Adams, Columbia		Portage	Dem.
28	Iowa & Richland		Wyoming	Rep.
29	Buffalo, Trempealeau,		Alma	Dem.
30	Chippewa			Rep.
31	La Crosse		Viroqua	Dem.
32	Jackson, Monroe,		Black River Falls	Rep.
33	Ozaukee, Washington,			Dem.

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