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 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
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, 1891Democrat John Fetzer won an election challenge to unseat Edward Scofield (District 1). 19 14 33 0 From Nov. 15, 1891Democrat Walter S. Greene (District 23) died. 18 32 1 From May 30, 1892Democrat Albert Solliday (District 23) replaced Walter S. Greene. 19 33 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 26 0 0 7 33 0
Assembly summary
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, 1891Democrat John Edwards (Wood County) died. 65 99 1 From Dec. 8, 1891Republican Phillip Rossman (Clark County) died. 32 98 2 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 55 0 45 100 0
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:
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Marinette, Oconto Rep. 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 GenevaRep. 09 Green Lake, Portage, Waushara, Princeton Dem. 10 Pierce HudsonRep. 11 Ashland, Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Price, Ashland Dem. 12 Green & Lafayette MonroeRep. 13 Dodge Watertown Dem. 14 Juneau & Sauk BarabooRep. 15 Kewaunee Two RiversDem. 16 Crawford Prairie du ChienRep. 17 Rock BeloitRep. 18 Fond du LacRep. 19 Winnebago (Except Manasha) Oshkosh Dem. 20 Sheboygan Plymouth Dem. 21 Shawano, Waupaca, Waupaca Dem. 22 Calumet & Outagamie Appleton Dem. 23 Jefferson Fort Atkinson Dem. 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:
SenateDistrict County Dist. Representative Party Residence 27 Adams Rep. Shields 11 Ashland, Florence, Forest, Oneida, Rep. Phillips 24 Barron Rep. Chetek Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Sawyer, Rep. Shell Lake 02 Brown 1 Dem. Fort Howard 2 Dem. De Pere 29 Buffalo Dem. Alma 02 Calumet Dem. Brillion 30 Chippewa Dem. Chippewa Falls 25 Clark Rep. Greenwood --Vacant-- 27 Columbia 1 Dem. Randolph 2 Rep. Arlington 16 Crawford Dem. Seneca 26 Dane 1 Dem. Madison 2 Dem. Roxbury 3 Dem. Springdale 4 Rep. Medina 13 Dodge 1 Dem. Beaver Dam 2 Dem. Oakfield 3 Dem. Lebanon 01 Door Dem. Sawyer 30 Dunn Rep. Knapp 25 Eau Claire 1 Rep. Eau Claire 2 Dem. Augusta 18 Fond du Lac 1 Dem. Rosendale 2 Dem. Fond du Lac 20 3 Dem. New Cassel 16 Grant 1 Rep. Paris 2 Dem. Lancaster 3 Dem. Fennimore 12 Green 1 Rep. Brodhead 2 Rep. Darlington 3 Dem. Shullsburg 09 Green Lake Dem. Markesan 28 Iowa 1 Dem. Mineral Point 2 Dem. Linden 32 Jackson Rep. Black River Falls 23 Jefferson 1 Dem. Watertown 2 Dem. Jefferson 14 Juneau Rep. Necedah 08 Kenosha Dem. Pleasant Prairie 15 Kewaunee 1 Dem. Meeme 2 Dem. Maple Grove 3 Dem. Manitowoc 4 Dem. Luxemburg 31 La Crosse 1 Dem. La Crosse 2 Dem. La Crosse 11 Langlade, Lincoln, Dem. Medford 09 Marathon 1 Dem. Emmet 21 2 Dem. Wausau 01 Marinette Lab. Menekaunee 04 Milwaukee 1 Dem. Milwaukee 05 2 Rep. Milwaukee 06 3 Dem. Milwaukee 05 4 Rep. Milwaukee 06 5 Dem. Milwaukee 04 6 Rep. Milwaukee 05 7 Rep. Milwaukee 07 8 Dem. Milwaukee 04 9 Dem. Milwaukee 07 10 Dem. Milwaukee 11 Dem. Milwaukee 06 12 Dem. Milwaukee 32 Monroe 1 Dem. Sparta 2 Dem. Tomah 01 Oconto Dem. Oconto 22 Outagamie 1 Dem. Appleton 2 Dem. New London 33 Ozaukee Dem. Cedarburg 29 Pepin Rep. Durand 10 Pierce Rep. Prescott 24 Polk Rep. Osceola 09 Portage Dem. Amherst 03 Racine Dem. Racine 28 Richland Rep. Buena Vista 17 Rock 1 Rep. Orfordville 2 Dem. Janesville 3 Rep. La Prairie 14 Sauk 1 Dem. Freedom 2 Dem. Reedsburg 21 Shawano 1 Dem. Waupaca 2 Dem. Mukwa 3 Dem. Shawano 20 Sheboygan 1 Dem. Sheboygan 2 Dem. Plymouth 3 Rep. Scott 10 St. Croix Rep. River Falls 29 Trempealeau Dem. Hale 31 Vernon 1 Rep. Christiana 2 Rep. Forest 08 Walworth 1 Rep. Whitewater 2 Rep. Walworth 33 Washington Dem Hartford Waukesha 1 Dem. Waukesha 23 2 Rep. Oconomowoc 09 Waushara Rep. Aurora 19 Winnebago 1 Dem. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Neenah 3 Dem. Oshkosh 32 Wood Dem. Port Edwards --Vacant--
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