The Thirty-First Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session, and later re-convened from June 4 to June 7, 1878, in special session, to complete the revision of the statutes. This was the first extra session of the Wisconsin Legislature since 1862.

This was the first and only session of the Legislature to have an Assembly speaker from the Greenback Party—Augustus Barrows. Despite the Greenbackers holding only 13% of the Assembly seats, neither major party had enough seats to form a majority without Greenback support. The Democrats thus formed a coalition with the Greenbacks for the 31st Legislature with Barrows acting as speaker.

Senators representing even-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first year of a two-year term. Assembly members were elected to a one-year term. Assembly members and even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 6, 1877. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the second year of their two-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 7, 1876.

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican William E. Smith, of Milwaukee County, serving the first year of a two-year term, having won election in the 1877 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events January 7, 1878: Inauguration of William E. Smith as the 14th Governor of Wisconsin. February 7, 1878: Pope Pius IX died at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City. February 28, 1878: The Bland–Allison Act became law in the United States, with the United States Congress overriding the veto of The act restored the monetary status of silver coins, a key priority of the Free silver movement. March 3, 1878: Cardinal Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci was crowned Pope Leo XIII. March 3, 1878: The Treaty of San Stefano was signed, ending the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 and establishing an independent Principality of Bulgaria. April 29, 1878: signed the National Quarantine Act of 1878, which created regulations to prevent the introduction of contagious diseases into the United States. The law also established the Marine Hospital Service, the forerunner of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the National Institutes of Health. June 18, 1878: signed the Posse Comitatus Act, which limited the power of the President to use the United States military to enforce domestic policies. July 13, 1878: The Treaty of Berlin (1878) was signed, making Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania completely independent from the Ottoman Empire, confirming the independence of Bulgaria, transferring Cyprus to British control, and allowing Austria-Hungary to garrison the Bosnia Vilayet. The treaty settled regional issues left open by the Treaty of San Stefano. October 1, 1878: The United States Supreme Court decided the case Ex parte Jackson, extending Fourth Amendment protections to private letters and packages.

Major legislation February 12, 1878: Joint Resolution relating to the remonetization of silver, 1878 Joint Resolution 3. Endorsed congressional action to restore the monetary value of silver currency, and resume minting silver coins. March 12, 1878: An Act to amend sections thirty-one and thirty-two of chapter fifty-six, of the general laws of 1870, entitled "An act to provide for the incorporation and government of fire and inland navigation insurance companies." 1878 Act 214. Created the appointed position of state insurance commissioner. March 21, 1878: An Act to authorize the granting of state certificates to graduates of the state university, 1878 Act 333. Created a certification process to enable any graduate of the University of Wisconsin to become authorized to work as a teacher at any public school in Wisconsin.

Party summary Senate summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Lib.R. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 8 3 22 33 0 1st Session 10 2 21 33 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 9 0 23 32 1

Assembly summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Ref. Soc. Gbk. Lib.R. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 32 5 0 0 1 61 100 0 Start of 1st Session 41 0 1 13 0 45 100 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 25 0 0 9 0 66 100 0

Sessions 1st Regular session: January 9, 1878March 21, 1878 June Special session: June 4, 1878June 7, 1878

Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: James M. Bingham (R) President pro tempore: Levi W. Barden (R)

Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Augustus Barrows (GB)

Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Thirty-First Wisconsin Legislature:

Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Oconto, & Shawano Kewaunee Rep. 02 Brown Green Bay Dem. 03 Racine Racine Rep. 04 Crawford & Vernon Chaseburg Rep. 05 Milwaukee (Northern Part) Milwaukee Rep. 06 Milwaukee (Southern Part) Milwaukee Dem. 07 Milwaukee (Central Part) Milwaukee Dem. 08 Kenosha & Walworth GenevaRep. 09 Green Lake, Marquette, BerlinRep. 10 Waukesha MertonDem. 11 Chippewa, Clark, Lincoln, Taylor, Grand RapidsRep. 12 Green & Lafayette MonroeRep. 13 Dodge Fox LakeDem. 14 Juneau & Sauk BarabooRep. 15 Manitowoc ManitowocDem. 16 Grant BeetownRep. 17 Rock JanesvilleRep. 18 RiponRep. 19 Winnebago OshkoshRep. 20 Sheboygan Sheboygan Falls Dem. 21 Marathon, Portage, Waupaca Lib.R. 22 Calumet & Outagamie Appleton Dem. 23 Jefferson Jefferson Lib.R. 24 Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, BaldwinRep. 25 Dane MadisonRep. 26 Dane (Western Part) Cross PlainsDem. 27 Adams & Columbia Portage Rep. 28 Iowa & Richland Rep. 29 Buffalo, Pepin, Galesville Rep. 30 Dunn, , Rep. 31 La Crosse La Crosse Rep. 32 Jackson Black River Falls Rep. 33 Ozaukee & Washington FarmingtonDem.

Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Thirty-First Wisconsin Legislature:

SenateDistrict County Dist. Representative Party Residence 27 Adams Rep. Friendship 24 Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Rep. Grantsburg 02 Brown 1 Rep. Green Bay 2 Dem. Fort Howard 3 Dem. Morrison 29 Buffalo & Pepin 1 Rep. Fountain City 2 Rep. Durand 22 Calumet Gbk. Brothertown 11 Chippewa Gbk. Chippewa Falls Clark, Lincoln, Taylor Gbk. Nasonville 27 Columbia 1 Dem. Portage 2 Rep. Pardeeville 04 Crawford Dem. Freeman 26 Dane 1 Dem. Montrose 25 2 Rep. Madison 3 Rep. Vienna 13 Dodge 1 Dem. Horicon 2 Dem. Theresa 3 Rep. Juneau 4 Rep. Beaver Dam 01 Door Rep. Fish Creek 30 Dunn Rep. Rock Creek Eau Claire Rep. Eau Claire 18 Fond du Lac 1 Rep. Brandon 2 Rep. Oakfield 3 Gbk. Fond du Lac 20 4 Dem. Taycheedah 16 Grant 1 Rep. Platteville 2 Dem. Beetown 3 Dem. Muscoda 12 Green 1 Rep. New Glarus 2 Rep. Spring Grove 09 Green Lake Dem. Kingston 28 Iowa 1 Gbk. Helena 2 Rep. Mineral Point 32 Jackson Rep. Black River Falls 23 Jefferson 1 Dem. Watertown 2 Rep. Johnson Creek 3 Dem. Palmyra 14 Juneau 1 Dem. Kildare 2 Dem. Necedah 08 Kenosha Dem. Pleasant Prairie 01 Kewaunee Dem. Carlton 31 La Crosse Rep. Holland 11 Lafayette 1 Dem. Wiota 2 Dem. Kendall 15 Manitowoc 1 Dem. Cato 2 Dem. Two Rivers 3 Dem. Manitowoc 21 Marathon Gbk. Wausau 09 Marquette Dem. Montello 05 Milwaukee 1 Dem. Milwaukee 07 2 Ref. Milwaukee 3 Dem. Milwaukee 4 Rep. Milwaukee 06 5 Dem. Milwaukee 05 6 Soc. Milwaukee 07 7 Rep. Milwaukee 06 8 Gbk. Milwaukee 05 9 Dem. Milwaukee 10 Lib.D. Good Hope 06 11 Dem. New Coeln 32 Monroe 1 Dem. Sparta 2 Rep. Oakdale 01 Oconto & Shawano Rep. Oconto 22 Outagamie 1 Ind.D. Appleton 2 Ref. Hortonville 33 Ozaukee Dem. Cedarburg 30 Pierce Rep. Rock Elm 21 Portage Gbk. Linwood 03 Racine 1 Dem. Racine 2 Lib. Norway 28 Richland 1 Rep. Lone Rock 2 Rep. Fancy Creek 17 Rock 1 Gbk. Beloit 2 Rep. Janesville 3 Rep. La Prairie 14 Sauk 1 Rep. Loganville 2 Rep. Reedsburg 20 Sheboygan 1 Dem. Sheboygan 2 Rep. Sheboygan Falls 3 Dem. Sherman 24 St. Croix Rep. Warren 29 Trempealeau Rep. Trempealeau 04 Vernon 1 Gbk. Coon Prairie 2 Rep. Liberty 08 Walworth 1 Rep. Spring Prairie 2 Rep. Richmond 3 Rep. Whitewater 33 Washington 1 Dem. Erin 2 Gbk. West Bend 10 Waukesha 1 Rep. New Berlin 2 Dem. Lisbon 21 Waupaca 1 Dem. Weyauwega 2 Rep. Clintonville 09 Waushara Ind.R. Bloomfield 19 Winnebago 1 Rep. Oshkosh 2 Gbk. Menasha 3 Rep. Oshkosh 4 Gbk. Nekimi

Employees Senate employees Chief Clerk: Andrew Jackson Turner until February 7, 1878, then Charles E. Bross Assistant Clerk: F. J. Stockwell Bookkeeper: I. F. Stickle Engrossing Clerk: J. W. Bates Enrolling Clerk: John W. DeGroff Sergeant-at-Arms: L. J. Brayton Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: D. D. Polleys Postmaster: Fred Badger Assistant Postmaster: J. A. Neavill Gallery Attendant: George M. Laing Assistant Attendant: John Beck Committee Room Attendants: William Reese W. A. Mills D. H. Pulcifer Doorkeepers: R. B. Winsor W. F. Bingman G. W. McDougal L. L. Gunderson Porter: John Benson Night Watch: C. L. Smith Messengers: Charles Marsden Welcome Smith George Buehner E. Hubbell Harry Meeker Louis Loper Prentiss S. Brannan Eddie Torrey P. L. Jerdee Lucien Pickarts Thomas Lucas

Assembly employees Chief Clerk: Jabez R. Hunter Assistant Clerk: Sam Ryan Jr. Bookkeeper: Roger C. Spooner Engrossing Clerk: Michael Bohan Asst. Engrossing Clerk: George Cox Enrolling Clerk: H. G. Fischbein Asst. Enrolling Clerk: John Meehan Proof Reader: Michael Walsh Sergeant-at-Arms: Anton Klaus Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: M. J. Egan Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Hugh Lewis Postmaster: D. W. C. Wilson Assistant Postmaster: George W. Dart Assistant Postmaster: Anthony G. Froner Doorkeepers: J. A. Allen Thomas Hobbins O. H. Hestehurn N. Sullivan Committee Room Attendants: Ed. Flaherty Anton Klaus Jr. Richard Donevan William Mahoney S. S. Hills Ed. Jannush Gallery Attendants: John Kane A. Tideman Porters: B. Coyne Henry Ebert Night Watch: F. B. Brundage Night Watch: Francis Fitzgerald Fireman: George Burns Janitor: Peter Labonde Wash Room Attendant: James Whitty Messengers: Clinton Snow Charles Whitton Harry Cutler Willie Krueger Fred T. Lee Jas. Foran Herman Schum George Gewecke Robert Gilroy Marcus L. Moody William Burnett John Roberts Edward Cavanaugh Charles Klaus

References

External links 1878: Related Documents from Wisconsin Legislature