49th Wisconsin Legislature

Major events

• March 4, 1909:
• * After a contentious two-month process, Isaac Stephenson was re-elected as United States senator by the Wisconsin Legislature in joint session.
• * Inauguration of William Howard Taft as the 27th President of the United States.
• August 2, 1909: The United States Signal Corps Aeronautical Division purchased the world's first military airplane, the Wright Military Flyer.
• November 13, 1909: "On, Wisconsin!" was played for the first time at a University of Wisconsin football game against the University of Minnesota. The song would become the official fight song of the University of Wisconsin and the official state song of the state of Wisconsin.
• March 17, 1910: Progressive Republicans in the United States House of Representatives allied with Democrats to remove speaker Joseph Gurney Cannon from the House Rules Committee and strip him of his power to appoint committee chairmen.
• September 1, 1910: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Joshua Eric Dodge resigned from the court.
• September 10, 1910: Governor James O. Davidson appointed Wisconsin circuit judge Aad J. Vinje to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to replace Joshua Eric Dodge.
• November 8, 1910: 1910 Wisconsin elections:
• * Francis E. McGovern elected Governor of Wisconsin.
• * Wisconsin voters approved an amendment to the state constitution so that redistricting should only occur after a federal census.
• * Wisconsin voters rejected an amendment to the state constitution to double compensation for state legislators.
• * Wisconsin voters approved an amendment which would have enabled more state funding of public improvements, but the referendum was later ruled invalid by the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
• November 20, 1910: Francisco I. Madero called for an armed revolution against Mexican president/dictator Porfirio Díaz, initiating the Mexican Revolution.

Major legislation

• Joint Resolution to amend section 21 of article 4 of the constitution, relating to compensation of members of the legislature, . Second legislative passage of the proposed amendment to the state constitution to double compensation for state legislators. The amendment was rejected by voters in the 1910 election.
• Joint Resolution memorializing congress in regard to international peace, . Endorsed the idea of an international parliament for preservation of peace.
• Joint Resolution relating to the capitol building, . Requested that the city of Madison enact controls to reduce coal pollution to maintain the beauty of the new capitol building, which was then under construction.
• Joint Resolution to amend section 10, article VII of the constitution, relating to the salary of judges, . Proposed an amendment to the state constitution to allow the Legislature to set judicial salaries by law.
• Joint Resolution to amend section 6, article VIII of the constitution, relating to limitation on the public debt, . Proposed an amendment to the state constitution to expand the reasons for which cities or counties could incur debt, but requiring that a payment schedule would be implemented that would have the debt repaid within 50 years.
• Joint Resolution to amend article 11 of the constitution by adding thereto a new section to be known as Section 3a, relating to the acquisition of lands by the state or any of its cities for certain public purposes, . Proposed an amendment to the state constitution to allow cities to acquire land for the purposes of creating or enlarging public parks, public squares, streets, public buildings, etc.
• Joint Resolution to amend section 3 of article XI of.the constitution, relating to municipal corporations and their indebtedness, . Proposed an amendment to the state constitution to create an exemption to the 5% limit on municipal debt for municipalities larger than 150,000 people where the debt is being used for the purchase of land for public improvements.
• Joint Resolution providing an amendment to section 3 of article IV of the Constitution of the State of Wisconsin, relating to apportionment, . Second legislative passage of the proposed amendment to the state constitution to only perform redistricting following a federal census. This amendment was ratified by voters in the Fall 1910 general election.

Sessions

Leaders

Senate leadership

• President of the Senate: William D. Connor
• President pro tempore: James Huff Stout

Assembly leadership

• Speaker of the Assembly: Levi H. Bancroft

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Assembly

Committees

Senate committees

• Senate Committee on AgricultureI. T. Bishop, chair
• Senate Committee on Banks and InsuranceW. C. Owen, chair
• Senate Committee on EducationJ. H. Stout, chair
• Senate Committee on ElectionsH. C. Martin, chair
• Senate Committee on Engrossed BillsT. Burke, chair
• Senate Committee on Federal RelationsE. E. Lyons, chair
• Senate Committee on the JudiciaryA. W. Sanborn, chair
• Senate Committee on Legislative Expenditures and EmployeesT. Morris, chair
• Senate Committee on Manufacturers and LaborT. W. Brazeau, chair
• Senate Committee on Military AffairsD. G. James, chair
• Senate Committee on Public HealthH. W. Barker, chair
• Senate Committee on Roads and BridgesE. E. Browne, chair
• Senate Committee on State AffairsG. E. Page, chair
• Senate Committee on TaxationJ. M. Whitehead, chair
• Senate Committee on Towns and CountiesJ. A. Fridd, chair
• Senate Committee on TransportationH. M. Lockney, chair
• Senate Committee on Villages and CitiesJ. A. Wright, chair

Assembly committees

• Assembly Committee on AgricultureG. U. Fisher, chair
• Assembly Committee on Banks and InsuranceF. W. Kubasta, chair
• Assembly Committee on CitiesC. E. Estabrook, chair
• Assembly Committee on Dairy and FoodT. Reynolds, chair
• Assembly Committee on DamsJ. S. Stack, chair
• Assembly Committee on EducationS. F. Wehrwein, chair
• Assembly Committee on ElectionsW. Ingalls, chair
• Assembly Committee on Engrossed BillsH. E. Roethe, chair
• Assembly Committee on Federal RelationsC. B. Culbertson, chair
• Assembly Committee on the JudiciaryL W. Ledvina, chair
• Assembly Committee on Legislative Expenditures and EmployeesJ. E. Thomas, chair
• Assembly Committee on LibrariesD. B. Stevens, chair
• Assembly Committee on Lumber and MiningP. Whitman, chair
• Assembly Committee on Manufactures and LaborS. Smith, chair
• Assembly Committee on Military AffairsW. Disch, chair
• Assembly Committee on Public HealthW. Irvine, chair
• Assembly Committee on Public ImprovementsH. Laycock, chair
• Assembly Committee on Roads and BridgesC. C. Wellensgard, chair
• Assembly Committee on State AffairsG. E. Scott, chair
• Assembly Committee on TaxationM. J. Cleary, chair
• Assembly Committee on Third ReadingW. Reader, chair
• Assembly Committee on Towns and CountiesJ. C. Chapple, chair
• Assembly Committee on TransportationE. W. LeRoy, chair
• Assembly Committee on VillagesG. T. Atwood, chair

Joint committees

• Joint Committee on the CapitolJ. S. Donald & F. Smith, co-chairs
• Joint Committee on Charitable and Penal InstitutionsS. M. Marsh & J. R. Jones, co-chairs
• Joint Committee on ClaimsG. B. Hudnall & L. C. Whittet, co-chairs
• Joint Committee on Enrolled BillsJ. C. Kleczka & F. R. Zimmerman, co-chairs
• Joint Committee on Fish and GameJ. W. Thomas & F. Hammill, co-chairs
• Joint Committee on ForestryH. P. Bird & W. M. Bray, co-chairs
• Joint Committee on PrintingJ. E. Lehr & J. A. Chinnock, co-chairs
• Joint Committee on RevisionJ. J. Blaine & J. E. McConnell, co-chairs
• Joint Committee on RulesJ. H. Stout & F. J. Kimball, co-chairs
• Joint Committee on State DepartmentsH. Krumrey & D. C. Coolidge, co-chairs
• Special Joint Committee on ApportionmentJ. M. Whitehead & C. A. Ingram, co-chairs

Employees

Senate employees

• Chief Clerk: F. E. Andrews
• * Journal Clerk: R. E. Smith
• ** Assistant Journal Clerk: George M. McLaughlin
• * Bookkeeper: Fred M. Wylie
• ** Assistant Bookkeeper: J. T. Huntington
• * Engrossing Clerk: John Bessey
• * Index Clerk: C. A. Worth
• * Proofreaders:
• ** J. H. Frazier
• ** L. B. Wolfenson
• * Stenographers:
• ** J. H. Sapiro
• ** R. H. Hillyer
• ** A. W. Galloway
• ** F. W. Spencer
• ** C. E. Mullen
• ** Fred Onstad
• ** C. B. MacCrossen
• ** R. W. Schlegel
• * Typewriter Clerks:
• ** L. B. Webster
• ** O. P. Peterson
• ** W. A. Anderson
• ** C. R. Welton
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Russell C. Falconer
• * Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: T. H. Sanderson
• * Document Clerk: Elmer A. Pierce
• * Day Police: Olaf Goldsbrand
• * Night Police: F. E. Boyle
• * Laborer: John Eastman
• Postmaster: George Emerich
• * Messengers:
• ** E. G. Cooper
• ** Leon Grane
• ** Thomas Farley
• ** Roland Monroe
• ** Orville Swarthout
• ** Harry Cotey
• ** Myron Harshaw

Assembly employees

• Chief Clerk: C. E. Shaffer
• * Journal Clerk: W. W. Jones
• ** Assistant Journal Clerk: S. E. Pearson
• * Bookkeeper: S. S. Summers
• ** Assistant Bookkeeper: C. H. Dietz
• * General Clerks:
• ** W. J. Goldschmidt
• ** R. E. Van Matre
• * Index Clerk: William L. Bullock
• * Proofreaders and Enrolling Clerks:
• ** Max Schoetz
• ** E. V. Nevins
• * Stenographers:
• ** March Polk
• ** A. J. Nelson
• ** A. J. Hughes
• ** D. J. Saposs
• ** L. T. Pond
• ** A. C. Tretow
• ** A. A. Heinrich
• ** C. J. Hartley
• ** A. C. Sheperd
• ** H. G. Pickering
• ** F. Robotka
• ** W. A. Lawton
• * Statistical Stenographer: George Washington Blanchard
• * Typewriters:
• ** L. L. Oeland
• ** J. C. Hawker
• ** H. G. Lee
• ** W. E. Kirk
• Sergeant-at-Arms: William S. Irvine
• * Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Harry V. Ross
• * Document Room Custodian: E. A. Hanks
• ** Assistant Document Room Custodian: C. E. Nelson
• * Day Police: E. F. Wright
• * Night Watch: H. S. Stevenson
• * Night Laborer: E. Brackenwogen
• Postmaster: R. W. Cheever
• * Post Office Messenger: C. F. Puls
• * Messengers:
• ** Francis Lamb
• ** Harry E. Boyle
• ** H. Hawker
• ** A. B. Bonde
• ** A. L. Vogt
• ** Walter F. Vanderhyden
• ** Harry E. Benedict
• ** Frank J. Rief
• ** Lawrence Stoddard
• ** M. A. Goldberg
• ** Julius Hembre
• ** Paul E. Slawson
• ** J. A. Jerabeck
• ** H. O. Femrite