48th Wisconsin Legislature

The Forty-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 9, 1907, to July 16, 1907, in regular session.^[1] During this term, legislative business was largely held in the north wing of the Wisconsin State Capitol, which was the only part of the capitol to remain intact after the 1904 fire.^[2]

48th Wisconsin Legislature
← 47th 49th →
Wisconsin State Capitol under reconstruction after the 1904 fire
Overview
Legislative body	Wisconsin Legislature
Meeting place	Wisconsin State Capitol
Term	January 7, 1907 – January 4, 1909
Election	November 6, 1906
Senate
Members	33
Senate President	William D. Connor (R)
President pro tempore	James Huff Stout (R)
Party control	Republican
Assembly
Members	100
Assembly Speaker	Herman Ekern (R)
Party control	Republican
Sessions
1st January 9, 1907 – July 16, 1907

This session saw the first ever African American member of the Wisconsin Legislature—Lucian H. Palmer of Milwaukee.

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 6, 1906. 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 8, 1904.^[1]

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican James O. Davidson, of Crawford County, serving his first full two-year term, having won election in the 1906 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events

• February 15, 1907: The Gentlemen's Agreement of 1907 was reached between representatives of the United States and the Empire of Japan, in which Japan would restrict emigration to the U.S., and the U.S. would stop imposing restrictions on Japanese immigrants.
• February 16, 1907: George E. Bryant, the incumbent Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Property, died in office.
• March 3, 1907: John Coit Spooner, Wisconsin's influential senior United States senator, unexpectedly announced his resignation from office, effective May 1.^[3]
• May 17, 1907: After a long and contentious nominating process in the Republican caucus, Isaac Stephenson was elected United States Senator by the Wisconsin Legislature in joint session to fill the remainder of John C. Spooner's term.
• July 3, 1907: A tornado struck Neillsville, Wisconsin, resulting in at least 15 deaths.
• October 24, 1907: A major U.S. financial crisis was averted by a group of Wall Street financiers who pooled $25,000,000 to prop up failing stocks during the Panic of 1907.
• December 30, 1907: Wisconsin Supreme Court chief justice John B. Cassoday died in office. He was immediately succeeded, as chief justice, by John B. Winslow, due to the rule of seniority.
• January 8, 1908: Robert McKee Bashford was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Governor James O. Davidson, to replace the deceased justice John B. Cassoday for the remainder of the 1907–1908 court term.
• April 7, 1908: John Barnes defeated the recently appointed Robert McKee Bashford in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election to fill the seat of deceased justice John B. Cassoday, for the term beginning July 1, 1908.
• June 30, 1908: An asteroid or comet exploded in the air near the Podkamennaya Tunguska in Russia. Known as the Tunguska event, it was the largest impact event on Earth in recorded history.
• November 3, 1908: 1908 United States general election:
  • William Howard Taft elected President of the United States.
  • James O. Davidson re-elected Governor of Wisconsin.
  • Voters approved an amendment to the Wisconsin constitution to limit voting rights to only U.S. citizens.
  • Voters approved an amendment to the Wisconsin constitution to limit the time allowed for gubernatorial vetoes.
  • Voters approved an amendment to the Wisconsin constitution to allow the state to implement an income tax.
  • Voters approved an amendment to the Wisconsin constitution to allow the state to implement a highway funding mechanism.

Major legislation

• Joint Resolution to amend section 10, article V, of the constitution, relating to the approval of bills by the governor, 1907 Joint Resolution 13. Second legislative approval of the constitutional amendment to limit the time allowed for a gubernatorial veto. This amendment was then ratified by voters in the 1908 fall general election.
• Joint Resolution providing for an amendment to section 10, article VIII of the constitution, relating to internal improvements, 1907 Joint Resolution 18. Second legislative approval of the constitutional amendment to authorize the state to fund highway construction. This amendment was also ratified in the 1908 fall general election.
• Joint Resolution to amend section 3 of article X of the constitution, relating to the school age of children, 1907 Joint Resolution 23. Proposed an amendment to the state constitution to make public school cover children from age six to 20.
• Joint Resolution to amend section 1 of article III of the constitution, relating to electors, 1907 Joint Resolution 25. Second legislative approval of the constitutional amendment to limit voting rights to only U.S. citizens. This amendment was also ratified in the 1908 fall general election.
• Joint Resolution 28, 1907 Joint Resolution 28. Reiterating Wisconsin's call for an amendment to the U.S. constitution for direct election of U.S. senators.
• Joint Resolution 29, 1907 Joint Resolution 29. Second legislative approval of the constitutional amendment to authorize a state income tax. This amendment was also ratified in the 1908 fall general election.
• Joint Resolution providing an amendment to section 3 of article IV, ox the constitution of the state of Wisconsin, relating to apportionment, 1907 Joint Resolution 30. Proposing an amendment to the state constitution to make redistricting a once-per-decade process following the release of the decennial U.S. census. U to this time, Wisconsin had conducted redistricting twice per decade.
• Joint Resolution to amend section 10 of article VIII of the constitution, 1907 Joint Resolution 31. Proposed an amendment to the state constitution to allow the state to more directly invest in certain public works projects.
• Joint Resolution to amend section 21 of article IV of the constitution, relating to the compensation of members of the legislature, 1907 Joint Resolution 35. Proposing an amendment to the state constitution to double the compensation for legislators.

Party summary

Senate summary

Senate partisan composition

  Democratic: 5 seats

  Social Dem.: 1 seat

  Republican: 27 seats

	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)			Total
	Dem.	S.D.	Rep.		Vacant
End of previous Legislature	4	1	28	33	0
Start of 1st Session	5	1	27	33	0
Final voting share	18.18%		81.82%
Beginning of the next Legislature	4	1	28	33	0

Assembly summary

Assembly partisan composition

  Democratic: 19 seats

  Social Dem.: 5 seats

  Republican: 76 seats

	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)			Total
	Dem.	S.D.	Rep.		Vacant
End of previous Legislature	11	4	84	99	1
Start of 1st Session	19	5	76	100	0
Final voting share	24%		76%
Beginning of the next Legislature	17	3	80	100	0

Sessions

• 1st Regular session: January 9, 1907 – July 16, 1907

Leaders

Senate leadership

• President of the Senate: William D. Connor (R)
• President pro tempore: James Huff Stout (R–Menomonie)

Assembly leadership

• Speaker of the Assembly: Herman Ekern (R–Whitehall)

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Forty-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature:^[4]

Senate partisan representation

  Democratic: 5 seats

  Social Dem.: 1 seat

  Republican: 27 seats

Dist.	Counties	Senator	Residence	Party
01	Door, Kewaunee, & Marinette	Harlan P. Bird	Wausaukee	Rep.
02	Brown & Oconto	Henry F. Hagemeister	Green Bay	Rep.
03	Kenosha & Racine	Isaac T. Bishop	Somers	Rep.
04	Milwaukee (Northern Part)	Theodore C. Froemming	Milwaukee	Rep.
05	Milwaukee (City Center)	Edward T. Fairchild	Milwaukee	Rep.
06	Milwaukee (City Northwest)	Jacob Rummel	Milwaukee	Soc.D.
07	Milwaukee (Southern & Western County)	George E. Page	Milwaukee	Rep.
08	Milwaukee (City South)	Julius E. Roehr	Milwaukee	Rep.
09	Adams, Marquette, Waushara, & Wood	Theodore W. Brazeau	Grand Rapids	Rep.
10	Pierce & St. Croix	Walter C. Owen	Maiden Rock	Rep.
11	Burnett, Douglas, & Polk	George Hudnall	Superior	Rep.
12	Ashland, Bayfield, Price, Sawyer, Taylor, & Washburn	Albert W. Sanborn	Ashland	Rep.
13	Dodge	Paul O. Husting	Mayville	Dem.
14	Outagamie & Shawano	Fred M. Wilcox	Appleton	Rep.
15	Calumet & Manitowoc	Samuel W. Randolph	Manitowoc	Dem.
16	Crawford & Grant	Edward E. Burns	Platteville	Rep.
17	Green, Iowa, & Lafayette	Harry C. Martin	Darlington	Rep.
18	Fond du Lac & Green Lake	Charles H. Smith	Markesan	Dem.
19	Winnebago	John A. Fridd		Rep.
20	Ozaukee & Sheboygan	George W. Wolff	Rhine	Rep.
21	Portage & Waupaca	Edward E. Browne	Waupaca	Rep.
22	Rock	John M. Whitehead	Janesville	Rep.
23	Jefferson & Walworth	John A. Hazelwood	Jefferson	Dem.
24	Chippewa, Eau Claire, & Rusk	James H. Noble	Eau Claire	Rep.
25	Clark & Marathon	Spencer M. Marsh	Neillsville	Rep.
26	Dane	Albert M. Stondall	Madison	Rep.
27	Columbia & Sauk	Charles L. Pearson	Greenfield	Dem.
28	Richland, & Vernon	Oliver Munson	Viroqua	Rep.
29	Barron, Buffalo, Dunn, & Pepin	James H. Stout	Menomonie	Rep.
30	Florence, Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, & Vilas	James A. Wright	Merrill	Rep.
31	Jackson, Juneau, & Monroe	H. W. Barker		Rep.
32	La Crosse & Trempealeau	Thomas Morris	La Crosse	Rep.
33	Washington & Waukesha	Henry Lockney	Waukesha	Rep.

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Forty-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature:^[4]

Assembly partisan composition

  Democratic: 19 seats

  Social Dem.: 5 seats

  Republican: 76 seats

Milwaukee County districts

Senate District	County	Dist.	Representative	Party	Residence
09	Adams & Marquette		Frank J. Kimball	Rep.	Briggsville
12	Ashland		Ove H. Berg	Rep.	Ashland
29	Barron		George E. Scott	Rep.	Prairie Farm
12	Bayfield, Sawyer, & Washburn		Lorenzo Clausen	Rep.	Washburn
02	Brown	1	Timothy Burke	Rep.	Green Bay
		2	Wallace Hager	Rep.	De Pere
29	Buffalo & Pepin		C. A. Ingram	Rep.	Durand
11	Burnett & Polk		J. P. Peterson	Rep.	Luck
15	Calumet		Henry Rollmann	Dem.	Chilton
24	Chippewa & Rusk	1	Thomas A. Roycraft	Rep.	Eagle Point
		2	Theodore M. Thomas	Rep.	Ladysmith
25	Clark		F. M. Jackson	Rep.	Colby
27	Columbia	1	John Scott	Rep.	Dekorra
		2	William R. Turner	Rep.	Columbus
16	Crawford		Jeremiah O'Neil	Dem.	Wauzeka
26	Dane	1	Elmore Elver	Dem.	Madison
		2	Ole P. Sorenson	Rep.	Marshall
		3	Thomas A. Stewart	Dem.	Verona
13	Dodge	1	Frank S. Bauer	Dem.	LeRoy
		2	John F. Hughes	Dem.
01	Door		Thomas Reynolds	Rep.	Jacksonport
11	Douglas	1	Albert W. Durley	Rep.	Superior
		2	Ray J. Nye	Rep.	Superior
29	Dunn		D. C. Coolidge	Rep.
24	Eau Claire	1	David L. Douglas	Dem.	Eau Claire
		2	W. A. Cernahan	Dem.
30	Florence, Forest, & Langlade		E. F. Nelson	Rep.	Rolling
18	Fond du Lac	1	Christian Pickart	Dem.	Marshfield
		2	Fred E. Soper	Rep.	Ripon
16	Grant	1	Duncan McGregor	Rep.	Platteville
		2	Henry Roethe	Rep.	Fennimore
17	Green		Fred Ties	Rep.	Brodhead
18	Green Lake		Christian C. Wellensgard	Rep.	Berlin
17	Iowa		David J. Morris	Rep.	Ridgeway
30	Iron, Oneida, & Vilas		Edward A. Everett	Rep.	Eagle River
31	Jackson		John F. Baker	Rep.	Alma Center
23	Jefferson	1	Fred Smith	Dem.	Ixonia
		2	George W. Kindlin	Dem.	Koshkonong
31	Juneau		J. D. Harring	Rep.	Armenia
03	Kenosha		Walker M. Curtiss	Rep.	Salem
01	Kewaunee		Anton G. Schauer	Rep.	Carlton
32	La Crosse	1	Thomas H. Miller	Rep.	La Crosse
		2	V. S. Keppel	Rep.	Onalaska
17	Lafayette		M. J. Cleary	Rep.	Blanchardville
30	Lincoln		F. W. Kubasta	Rep.	Merrill
15	Manitowoc	1	Simon F. Wehrwein	Rep.	Newton
		2	Lawrence W. Ledvina	Rep.	Two Rivers
25	Marathon	1	Nicholas Schmidt	Dem.	Marathon City
		2	August F. Marquardt	Rep.	Wausau
01	Marinette	1	Edward W. LeRoy	Rep.	Marinette
		2	W. H. Falvey	Rep.	Stephenson
04	Milwaukee	1	H. H. Heilbron	Rep.	Milwaukee
05		2	Otto Harrass	Rep.	Milwaukee
07		3	William Disch	Rep.	Milwaukee
05		4	George Grassie	Rep.	Milwaukee
08		5	William Alldridge	Soc.D.	Milwaukee
05		6	Lucian H. Palmer	Rep.	Milwaukee
07		7	Elmer Cain	Rep.	Wauwatosa
08		8	Simon Kander	Rep.	Milwaukee
06		9	Edmund J. Berner	Soc.D.	Milwaukee
		10	Herman Georgi	Rep.	Milwaukee
08		11	Frederick Brockhausen	Soc.D.	Milwaukee
06		12	Carl D. Thompson	Soc.D.	Milwaukee
04		13	Charles E. Estabrook	Rep.	Milwaukee
07		14	Joseph Domachowski	Dem.	Milwaukee
04		15	Jacob Luy	Rep.	Milwaukee
06		16	Frank J. Weber	Soc.D.	Milwaukee
31	Monroe		John R. Jones	Rep.	Leon
02	Oconto		W. J. McGee	Rep.	Oconto
14	Outagamie	1	Fred Petersen	Dem.	Appleton
		2	Charles J. Hagen	Rep.	Black Creek
20	Ozaukee		William J. Bichler	Dem.	Belgium
10	Pierce		William A. Kay	Rep.	Martell
21	Portage		Fred J. Carpenter	Rep.	Stevens Point
12	Price & Taylor		Charles F. Stout	Rep.	Westboro
03	Racine	1	William H. Bell	Rep.	Racine
		2	John O. Thomas	Rep.	Caledonia
28	Richland		Levi H. Bancroft	Rep.	Richland Center
22	Rock	1	Allen S. Baker	Rep.	Evansville
		2	Pliny Norcross	Rep.	Janesville
		3	Simon Smith	Rep.	Beloit
27	Sauk	1	Wilbur Cahoon	Rep.	Baraboo
		2	Frank F. Mueller	Rep.	Reedsburg
14	Shawano		Antone Kuckuk	Rep.	Shawano
20	Sheboygan	1	John M. Detling	Dem.	Sheboygan
		2	Edward J. Keyes	Rep.	Lyndon
10	St. Croix		Peter C. Anderson	Dem.	Hammond
32	Trempealeau		Herman Ekern	Rep.	Whitehall
28	Vernon		David F. Mains	Rep.	Viroqua
23	Walworth		Edward H. Sprague	Rep.	Elkhorn
33	Washington		B. S. Potter	Dem.	West Bend
	Waukesha	1	James A. McKenzie	Rep.	Vernon
		2	Roderick Ainsworth	Rep.	Merton
21	Waupaca	1	Wesley Irvine	Rep.
		2	Otto L. Olen	Rep.	Clintonville
09	Waushara		Emil Keup	Rep.	Mount Morris
19	Winnebago	1	William M. Perry	Rep.	Oshkosh
		2	M. L. Campbell	Dem.	Neenah
		3	Charles Neitzel	Rep.	Nekimi
09	Wood		Clifford R. Goldsworthy	Rep.	Vesper

Committees

Senate committees

• Senate Committee on Agriculture – Wolff, chair
• Senate Committee on Banks and Insurance – J. E. Roehr, chair
• Senate Committee on Education – J. H. Stout, chair
• Senate Committee on Elections – Martin, chair
• Senate Committee on Engrossed Bills – Lockney, chair
• Senate Committee on Federal Relations – Stondall, chair
• Senate Committee on the Judiciary – Sanborn, chair
• Senate Committee on Legislative Expenditures and Employees – Morris, chair
• Senate Committee on Manufacturers and Labor – Froemming, chair
• Senate Committee on Military Affairs – Fairchild, chair
• Senate Committee on Public Health – Noble, chair
• Senate Committee on Roads and Bridges – Browne, chair
• Senate Committee on State Affairs – Munson, chair
• Senate Committee on Taxation – Wilcox, chair
• Senate Committee on Towns and Counties – Barker, chair
• Senate Committee on Transportation – Hudnall, chair
• Senate Committee on Villages and Cities – Wright, chair

Assembly committees

• Assembly Committee on Agriculture – J. A. Fridd, chair
• Assembly Committee on Banks and Insurance – G. E. Scott, chair
• Assembly Committee on Cities – C. E. Estabrook, chair
• Assembly Committee on Dairy and Food – J. A. McKenzie, chair
• Assembly Committee on Dams – E. F. Nelson, chair
• Assembly Committee on Education – D. McGregor, chair
• Assembly Committee on Elections – T. A. Roycraft, chair
• Assembly Committee on Engrossed Bills – L. N. Clausen, chair
• Assembly Committee on Federal Relations – A. J. Jerdee, chair
• Assembly Committee on the Judiciary – C. A. Ingram, chair
• Assembly Committee on Libraries – L. Ledvina, chair
• Assembly Committee on Legislative Expenditures and Employees – F. J. Kimball, chair
• Assembly Committee on Lumber and Mining – F. J. Carpenter, chair
• Assembly Committee on Manufactures and Labor – W. H. Bell, chair
• Assembly Committee on Military Affairs – W. M. Perry, chair
• Assembly Committee on Public Health – W. Irvine, chair
• Assembly Committee on Public Improvements – C. J. Hagen, chair
• Assembly Committee on Roads and Bridges – P. Norcross, chair
• Assembly Committee on State Affairs – W. R. Turner, chair
• Assembly Committee on the State Fair – J. D. Harring, chair
• Assembly Committee on Taxation – E. H. Sprague, chair
• Assembly Committee on Third Reading – H. E. Roethe, chair
• Assembly Committee on Towns and Counties – W. H. Falvey, chair
• Assembly Committee on Transportation – E. W. LeRoy, chair
• Assembly Committee on Villages – D. F. Mains, chair

Joint committees

• Joint Committee on the Capitol – Whitehead (Sen.) & A. S. Baker (Asm.), co-chairs
• Joint Committee on Charitable and Penal Institutions – Hagemeister(Sen.) & J. O. Thomas (Asm.), co-chairs
• Joint Committee on Claims – Burns (Sen.) & R. Ainsworth (Asm.), co-chairs
• Joint Committee on Enrolled Bills – Marsh (Sen.) & F. Ties (Asm.), co-chairs
• Joint Committee on Fish and Game – Page (Sen.) & E. A. Everett (Asm.), co-chairs
• Joint Committee on Forestry – Bird (Sen.) & W. M. Curtiss (Asm.), co-chairs
• Joint Committee on Printing – Owen (Sen.) & V. S. Keppel (Asm.), co-chairs
• Joint Committee on Revision – Brazeau (Sen.) & C. F. Stout (Asm.), co-chairs
• Joint Committee on Rules – Stout (Sen.) & D. McGregor (Asm.), co-chairs
• Joint Committee on State Departments – Fridd (Sen.) & A. Kuckuk (Asm.), co-chairs
• Special Joint Committee on Apportionment – Whitehead (Sen.) & R. J. Nye (Asm.), co-chairs

Employees

Senate employees

• Chief Clerk: A. R. Emerson^[5]
  • Journal Clerk: R. E. Smith
    • Assistant Journal Clerk: William Gray
  • Bookkeeper: Fred M. Wylie
  • Engrossing Clerk: J. C. Miller
  • Index Clerk: C. W. Rhodes
  • Stenographer Clerks:
    • R. R. Hillyer
    • A. W. Galloway
    • C. R. Welton
    • T. H. Jones
    • F. W. Spencer
    • J. H. Sapiro
    • A. C. Tretow
    • D. W. Swartz
    • John Bessey
  • Typewriter Clerks:
    • R. A. Merrill
    • L. B. Webster
    • O. P. Peterson
    • C. E. Rightor
    • W. T. Kelsey
    • Max Schoetz
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Russell C. Falconer
  • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Charles Good
  • Document Clerk: Elmer Pierce
  • Police: Olaf Goldsbrand
  • Night Watch: M. R. Stanley
  • Night Laborer: K. Thompson
• Postmaster: Christoph Paulus
  • Messengers:
    • Vincent Kalpinski
    • Emil C. Cady
    • John W. Moffatt
    • Harold M. Lampert
    • Karl Helmholz
    • Matthew Button
    • J. W. Damm
    • Harry Cotey

Assembly employees

• Chief Clerk: C. E. Shaffer^[5]
  • Journal Clerk: W. W. Jones
    • Assistant Journal Clerk: G. H. Kiland
  • Bookkeeper: S. S. Summers
  • General Clerk: J. E. Noyes (later I. R. Nash)
    • 2nd General Clerk: W. J. Goldschmidt
  • Enrolling Clerk: R. E. Knoff
  • Engrossing Clerk: N. J. Frey
  • Index Clerk: William L. Bullock
  • Stenographers:
    • G. W. Stevens
    • Burton L. Warriner
    • L. T. Pond
    • March Polk
    • A. J. Nelson
    • C. A. Nickerson
    • Leon Lewis
    • P. H. Presentin
    • James McNeeley
    • L. P. Larson
    • A. T. Twesme
  • Typewriters:
    • C. M. Gillett
    • L. L. Oeland
    • D. E. Mowry
    • J. C. Hawker
    • H. C. Hopson
    • Wendell Woodruff
    • P. L. Priest
• Sergeant-at-Arms: William S. Irvine
  • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: H. A. Graham
  • Document Clerk: A. H. Bartlett
    • Assistant Document Clerk: A. E. Hart
  • Police: John Steele
  • Night Watch: Obert Sletton
  • Night Laborers:
    • John Curtin
    • H. G. Hart
• Postmaster: John Harris
  • Assistant Postmaster: J. R. Snyder
  • Messengers:
    • Ed. S. Malone
    • Helmer Femrite
    • A. W. Prehn
    • Lyman Keyes
    • Frank Hagen
    • W. W. Studeman
    • J. W. Gaurke
    • Selmer Gunderson
    • H. W. Kellar
    • Walter Reif
    • C. T. Puls
    • E. S. Polley