The Fifty-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session, and re-convened in a special session in March 1922.

Senators representing even-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 even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 3, 1920. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 5, 1918.

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican John J. Blaine, of Grant County, serving a two-year term, having won election in the 1920 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events January 3, 1921: Inauguration of John J. Blaine as the 24th Governor of Wisconsin. January 29, 1921: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice James C. Kerwin died in office. March 4, 1921: Inauguration of Warren G. Harding as the 29th President of the United States. March 11, 1921: Christian Doerfler was appointed a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Governor , to fill the vacancy caused by the death of justice May 19, 1921: U.S. President Warren G. Harding signed the Emergency Quota Act into law, limiting the immigration of southern and eastern Europeans to the United States. December 6, 1921: The Anglo-Irish Treaty formally ends the Irish War of Independence, establishing the Irish Free State. February 6, 1922: The Five Power Naval Disarmament Treaty was signed between the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, France, and Italy. The treaty placed limits on construction of battleships and placed weight limitations on other naval ships. February 12, 1922: Wisconsin chief justice Robert G. Siebecker died in office. Justice Aad J. Vinje immediately succeeded to the position of chief justice due to the rule of seniority. April 3, 1922: Joseph Stalin was appointed General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party. April 4, 1922: Attorney Charles H. Crownhart was appointed a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Governor , to fill the vacancy caused by the death of chief justice May 15, 1922: The WCAY radio station began broadcasting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. May 30, 1922: Dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. June 14, 1922: U.S. President Warren G. Harding made the first presidential speech over radio. October 31, 1922: Benito Mussolini became Prime Minister of Italy after leading a coup d'état with his National Fascist Party. November 7, 1922: 1922 United States general election: John J. Blaine re-elected Governor of Wisconsin. Robert M. La Follette re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin. Wisconsin voters approved an amendment to the state constitution changing jury rules for civil trials, so that a verdict requires at least five-sixths majority. Wisconsin voters rejected two other amendments to the state constitution: to remove term limits from sheriffs to allow municipalities to take on additional debt to pay for streetcars or power, water, or heat infrastructure November 11, 1922: The Lausanne Conference recognized the Republic of Turkey as having replaced the Ottoman sultanate as the legitimate government of Turkey. December 30, 1922: The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was created by the union of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and the Transcaucasian Republic.

Major legislation July 9, 1921: An Act ... relating to the re-apportionment of the state into assembly and senatorial districts, 1921 Act 470. Joint Resolution to amend section 5, article I of the constitution, relating to trial by jury, 1921 Joint Resolution 17. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to change jury rules for civil trials, so that a verdict requires a minimum of five-sixths of the jury. This amendment was ratified by voters in the November 1922 election. Joint Resolution to amend section 7 of article VII of the constitution, relating to circuit judges, 1921 Joint Resolution 24. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to expand the number of circuits eligible for having multiple judges. Joint Resolution to amend section 21 of article IV of the constitution, relating to compensation or members of the legislature, 1921 Joint Resolution 28. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to raise legislative pay to $750 per year ($12,000 adjusted for inflation to 2023). Voters had just defeated another amendment which would have given the Legislature control of their own salary in 1920. This amendment would also ultimately be defeated in April 1924. Joint Resolution to amend section 10 of article VIII of the constitution, relating to internal improvements, 1921 Joint Resolution 29. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow state spending on forestry improvements. Joint Resolution to amend section 4 of article VI of the constitution, relating to county officers, 1921 Joint Resolution 36. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to remove term limits for sheriffs. This amendment was defeated by voters in the November 1922 election. Joint Resolution to create section 3b of article XI of the constitution, relating to the indebtedness of municipal corporations, 1921 Joint Resolution 37. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow municipalities to take on additional debt for street rail or other utilities. This amendment was defeated by voters in the November 1922 election. Joint Resolution to amend section 3 of article XI of the constitution, relating to powers of cities and villages, 1921 Joint Resolution 39. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to grant home rule to all cities and villages in the state.

Party summary Senate summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Soc. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 2 4 27 32 1 Start of 1st Session 2 4 27 33 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 0 3 29 32 1

Assembly summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Soc. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 6 16 76 98 2 Start of 1st Session 2 6 92 100 0 From Jan. 15, 1921Republican Samuel Owens (Green Lake County) died. 91 99 1 From Mar. 8, 1921Republican Ira W. Parker (Green Lake County) was sworn in to replace Samuel Owens. 92 100 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 1 10 89 100 0

Sessions Regular session: January 12, 1921July 14, 1921 March 1922 special session: March 22, 1922March 28, 1922

Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: George Comings (R) President pro tempore: Timothy Burke (R–Green Bay)

Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Riley S. Young (R–Darien)

Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Fifty-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:

Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Sturgeon Bay Rep. 02 Brown Green Bay Rep. 03 Kenosha Racine Rep. 04 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 05 Milwaukee Milwaukee Soc. 06 Milwaukee Milwaukee Soc. 07 Milwaukee Milwaukee Soc. 08 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 09 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 10 Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, River FallsRep. 11 Burnett, Douglas, SuperiorRep. 12 Ashland, Bayfield, Price, Rusk, AshlandRep. 13 Dodge Iron RidgeRep. 14 Outagamie ShawanoRep. 15 Calumet Rantoul Soc. 16 Crawford, Grant, FennimoreRep. 17 Green, Iowa, BlanchardvilleRep. 18 Fond du LacRep. 19 Winnebago NeenahRep. 20 Ozaukee SheboyganRep. 21 Adams, Juneau, Marquette, Westfield Rep. 22 Rock Elkhorn Rep. 23 Portage Iola Rep. 24 Clark Neillsville Rep. 25 Langlade Wausau Rep. 26 Dane Stoughton Rep. 27 Columbia Caledonia Rep. 28 Chippewa, Eau Claire Rep. 29 Barron, Dunn, Menomonie Rep. 30 Florence, Forest, Iron, Lincoln, Oneida, Taylor, Rhinelander Rep. 31 Jackson, Monroe, Viroqua Rep. 32 La Crosse Galesville Rep. 33 Jefferson Dem.

Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Fifty-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:

SenateDist. County Dist. Representative Party Residence 21 Adams Rep. Montello 12 Ashland Rep. Ashland 29 Barron Rep. Rice Lake 12 Bayfield Rep. Washburn 02 Brown 1 Rep. Green Bay 2 Rep. Lawrence 10 Buffalo Rep. Gilmanton 11 Burnett Rep. 15 Calumet Dem. Harrison 28 Chippewa Rep. 24 Clark Rep. 27 Columbia Rep. Lodi 16 Crawford Rep. Soldiers Grove 26 Dane 1 Rep. Madison 2 Rep. Christiana 3 Rep. Mount Horeb 13 Dodge 1 Rep. Emmet 2 Rep. Burnett 01 Door Rep. 11 Douglas 1 Rep. Superior 2 Rep. Parkland 29 Dunn Rep. Tiffany 28 Eau Claire Rep. Washington 30 Florence, Forest, Rep. Argonne 18 Fond du Lac 1 Rep. Friendship 2 Rep. Brandon 16 Grant 1 Rep. Platteville 2 Rep. Boscobel 17 Green Rep. Jordan 18 Green Lake Rep. Green Lake Rep. Markesan 17 Iowa Rep. Linden 30 Iron Rep. Hurley 31 Jackson Rep. Hixton 33 Jefferson 1 Rep. Watertown 2 Rep. Waterloo 21 Juneau Rep. Mauston 03 Kenosha Rep. Kenosha 01 Kewaunee Rep. Carlton 32 La Crosse 1 Rep. La Crosse 2 Rep. Barre 17 Lafayette Rep. Lamont 25 Langlade Dem. Antigo 30 Lincoln Rep. Tomahawk 15 Manitowoc 1 Rep. Meeme 2 Rep. Franklin 25 Marathon 1 Rep. Colby 2 Rep. Wausau 01 Marinette Rep. 09 Milwaukee 1 Rep. Milwaukee 2 Rep. Milwaukee 3 Rep. Milwaukee 05 4 Rep. Milwaukee 08 5 Rep. Milwaukee 05 6 Rep. Milwaukee 7 Soc. Milwaukee 08 8 Soc. Milwaukee 06 9 Soc. Milwaukee 04 10 Soc. Milwaukee 08 11 Soc. Milwaukee 12 Rep. Milwaukee 04 13 Rep. Milwaukee 07 14 Soc. Milwaukee 05 15 Rep. Milwaukee 16 Rep. Milwaukee 07 17 Rep. Milwaukee 04 18 Rep. Milwaukee 07 19 Rep. 31 Monroe Rep. Tomah 02 Oconto Rep. Oconto 14 Outagamie 1 Rep. Appleton 2 Rep. Kaukauna 20 Ozaukee Rep. Belgium 10 Pierce Rep. River Falls 29 Polk Rep. Milltown 23 Portage Rep. 12 Price Rep. Phillips 03 Racine 1 Rep. Racine 2 Rep. Norway 28 Richland Rep. Viola 22 Rock 1 Rep. Janesville 2 Rep. Beloit 12 Rusk Rep. 27 Sauk Rep. Westfield 14 Shawano Rep. Belle Plaine 20 Sheboygan 1 Rep. Sheboygan 2 Rep. Plymouth 10 St. Croix Rep. New Richmond 30 Taylor Rep. Medford 32 Trempealeau Rep. Whitehall 31 Vernon Rep. Viroqua 23 Walworth Rep. Darien 13 Washington Rep. Addison 33 Waukesha 1 Rep. Waukesha 2 Rep. Sussex 23 Waupaca Rep. Clintonville 21 Waushara Rep. Coloma 19 Winnebago 1 Rep. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Neenah 3 Rep. Algoma 24 Wood Rep. Hansen

Committees Senate committees Senate Standing Committee on CommitteesG. B. Skogmo, chair Senate Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresH. Huber, chair Senate Standing Committee on CorporationsG. B. Skogmo, chair Senate Standing Committee on Education and Public WelfareA. Kuckuk, chair Senate Standing Committee on HighwaysE. F. Clark, chair Senate Standing Committee on the JudiciaryJ. A. Conant, chair Senate Standing Committee on Legislative ProcedureT. Burke, chair Senate Standing Committee on State AffairsH. E. Roethe, chair

Assembly committees Assembly Standing Committee on AgricultureW. Olson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and ManufacturesJ. E. Johnson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresJ. C. Hanson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on EducationM. L. Hineman, chair Assembly Standing Committee on ElectionsF. Hess, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed BillsA. Becker, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled BillsT. W. Bartingale, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and FeesR. M. Atcherson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Fish and GameM. S. Catlin, chair Assembly Standing Committee on HighwaysR. Bullis, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and BankingB. H. Mahon, chair Assembly Standing Committee on the JudiciaryJ. B. French, chair Assembly Standing Committee on LaborW. A. Freehoff, chair Assembly Standing Committee on MunicipalitiesC. M. Perry, chair Assembly Standing Committee on PrintingF. W. Downs, chair