51st Wisconsin Legislature

The Fifty-First Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 8, 1913, to August 9, 1913, 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]

51st Wisconsin Legislature
50th 52nd
Wisconsin State Capitol reconstruction close to completion
Overview
Legislative bodyWisconsin Legislature
Meeting placeWisconsin State Capitol
TermJanuary 6, 1913 – January 4, 1915
ElectionNovember 5, 1912
Senate
Members33
Senate PresidentThomas Morris (R)
President pro temporeHarry C. Martin (R)
Party controlRepublican
Assembly
Members100
Assembly SpeakerMerlin Hull (R)
Party controlRepublican
Sessions
1stJanuary 8, 1913 – August 9, 1913

This was the first legislative session after the redistricting of the Senate and Assembly according to an act of the previous session.

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 5, 1912. 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 8, 1910.[1]

Major events

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Major legislation

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  • February 18, 1913: Joint Resolution ratifying an amendment to the constitution of the United States relating to popular election of United States Senators, 1913 Joint Resolution 5. This was Wisconsin's ratification of the seventeenth amendment to the United States Constitution.
  • May 7, 1913: An Act to authorize the industrial commission to investigate the subject of old-age pensions, 1913 Act 185. Initial steps toward establishing a state pension system.
  • May 14, 1913: An Act ... relating to the law of the road for automobiles, and providing a penalty, 1913 Act 249. Established in law that automobiles and other vehicles should move to their right when encountering oncoming traffic.
  • May 27, 1913: An Act ... relating to pecuniary assistance to prisoners and their families, 1913 Act 353. Enabled prisoners to receive payment for participating in state work release programs.
  • May 28, 1913: An Act ... relating to infectious diseases, 1913 Act 308. Established that persons suffering from tuberculosis but not abiding by public health directives could be involuntarily committed to a hospital to prevent spread of the disease.
  • May 29, 1913: An Act ... to appropriate a certain sum of money to the normal school fund to build a normal school at Eau Claire, 1913 Act 359. Establishing the school that would become University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.
  • June 14, 1913: An Act ... relating to the employments of minors and females, 1913 Act 466. Specified a wide range of dangerous job duties for which it would be illegal to employ minors.

Party summary

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Senate summary

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Senate partisan composition
  Democratic: 7 seats
  Social Dem.: 1 seat
  Republican: 24 seats
  Vacant: 1 seat
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem. S.D. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 4 2 26 32 1
Start of 1st Session 7 1 25 33 0
From Mar. 4, 1913[note 1] 24 32 1
Final voting share 25% 75%
Beginning of the next Legislature 9 1 23 33 0

Assembly summary

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Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 35 seats
  Social Dem.: 6 seats
  Independent: 1 seat
  Republican: 58 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem. S.D. Ind. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 29 12 0 59 100 0
Start of 1st Session 35 6 0 59 100 0
From Jan. 19, 1913[note 2] 58 99 1
From Feb. 25, 1913[note 3] 1 100 0
Final voting share 42% 58%
Beginning of the next Legislature 29 8 0 63 100 0

Sessions

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  • 1st Regular session: January 8, 1913 – August 9, 1913

Leaders

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Senate leadership

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Assembly leadership

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Members

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Members of the Senate

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Members of the Senate for the Fifty-First Wisconsin Legislature:[3]

 
Senate partisan representation
  Democratic: 7 seats
  Social Dem.: 1 seat
  Republican: 25 seats
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party
01 Door, Kewaunee, & Marinette M. W. Perry Algoma Rep.
02 Brown & Oconto Timothy Burke Green Bay Rep.
03 Kenosha & Racine Isaac T. Bishop Somers Rep.
04 Milwaukee (Northern Part) William L. Richards Milwaukee Rep.
05 Milwaukee (Middle-West County & Central-Western City) George J. Weigle Milwaukee Rep.
06 Milwaukee (Northern City) George Weissleder Milwaukee Dem.
07 Milwaukee (Southern County) Gabriel Zophy Milwaukee Soc.D.
08 Milwaukee (City South) Alexander E. Martin Milwaukee Rep.
09 Milwaukee (City Downtown) Edward F. Kileen Wautoma Rep.
10 Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, & St. Croix George B. Skogmo River Falls Rep.
11 Burnett, Douglas, & Washburn Victor Linley Superior Rep.
12 Ashland, Bayfield, Price, Rusk, & Sawyer A. Pearce Tomkins Ashland Rep.
13 Dodge & Washington Paul O. Husting Mayville Dem.
14 Outagamie & Shawano Henry N. Culbertson Rep.
15 Calumet & Manitowoc Samuel W. Randolph Manitowoc Dem.
16 Crawford, Grant, & Richland Robert Glenn Wyalusing Rep.
17 Green, Iowa, & Lafayette Harry C. Martin Darlington Rep.
18 Fond du Lac & Green Lake Lewis G. Kellogg Ripon Dem.
19 Winnebago Merritt F. White Winneconne Rep.
20 Ozaukee & Sheboygan William J. Bichler Belgium Dem.
21 Adams, Juneau, Marquette, & Waushara Edward E. Browne (res. March 4, 1913) Waupaca Rep.
--Vacant from Mar. 4, 1913--
22 Rock & Walworth Lawrence E. Cunningham Beloit Rep.
23 Portage & Waupaca Charles A. Snover Fort Atkinson Dem.
24 Clark & Wood Robert W. Monk Neillsville Rep.
25 Langlade & Marathon W. W. Albers Wausau Dem.
26 Dane Henry Huber Stoughton Rep.
27 Columbia & Sauk John M. True Baraboo Rep.
28 Chippewa, & Eau Claire Edward Ackley Chippewa Falls Rep.
29 Barron, Dunn, & Polk George E. Scott Prairie Farm Rep.
30 Florence, Forest, Iron, Lincoln, Oneida, Taylor, & Vilas Willard T. Stevens Rep.
31 Jackson, Monroe, & Vernon Howard Teasdale Sparta Rep.
32 La Crosse & Trempealeau Otto Bosshard La Crosse Rep.
33 Jefferson & Waukesha George E. Hoyt Menomonee Falls Rep.

Members of the Assembly

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Members of the Assembly for the Fifty-First Wisconsin Legislature:[3]

 
Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 35 seats
  Social Dem.: 6 seats
  Independent: 1 seat
  Republican: 58 seats
 
Milwaukee County districts
Senate
District
County Dist. Representative Party Residence
21 Adams & Marquette George W. Bingham Rep. Friendship
12 Ashland D. E. Bowe Rep. Mellen
29 Barron Andrew Gulickson Rep. Stanley
12 Bayfield Hubert H. Peavey Rep. Washburn
02 Brown 1 Archie McComb Rep. Green Bay
2 John L. Schnitzler Rep. De Pere
10 Buffalo & Pepin James Allison Rep. Maxville
11 Burnett & Washburn Hans M. Laursen Rep. Shell Lake
15 Calumet August T. Dorn Dem. Harrison
28 Chippewa Thomas W. Bartingale Rep.
24 Clark Arnt O. Rhea Rep. Thorp
27 Columbia K. A. Johnson Rep. Portage
16 Crawford T. Frank Clancy Rep. Soldiers Grove
26 Dane 1 Fred L. Holmes Rep. Madison
2 Edward C. Meland Rep. DeForest
3 Thomas A. Stewart Dem. Verona
13 Dodge 1 Charles Lentz Dem. Herman
2 Henry E. Krueger Dem. Beaver Dam
01 Door Lewis L. Johnson Rep. Clay Banks
11 Douglas 1 Philip Gannon Rep. Superior
2 Ray J. Nye Rep. Superior
29 Dunn James D. Millar Rep. Menomonie
28 Eau Claire Henry Laycock Rep. Eau Claire
30 Florence, Forest, & Oneida Douglas Anderson Rep. Rhinelander
18 Fond du Lac 1 Christian Pickart Dem. Marshfield
2 William F. Sommerfield Rep. Oakfield
16 Grant 1 James Dolan Dem. Platteville
2 Henry E. Roethe Rep. Fennimore
17 Green S. A. Schindler Rep. New Glarus
18 Green Lake Newcomb Spoor Rep. Berlin
17 Iowa Albert D. Richardson Rep. Wyoming
30 Iron & Vilas William Whiteside Rep.
31 Jackson Merlin Hull Rep. Black River Falls
33 Jefferson 1 C. F. Viebahn Dem. Watertown
2 Oscar F. Roessler Dem. Jefferson
21 Juneau A. A. Telfer Rep. Elroy
03 Kenosha Charles H. Pfennig Rep. Kenosha
01 Kewaunee Paul Hoverson Rep. Franklin
32 La Crosse 1 Clark L. Hood Dem. La Crosse
2 E. J. Kneen Dem. Bangor
17 Lafayette Julius M. Engebretson Rep. Wiota
25 Langlade Edward Nordman Dem. Polar
30 Lincoln John O'Day Dem. Merrill
15 Manitowoc 1 Carl Hansen Dem. Manitowoc
2 Peter J. Murphy Dem. Cato
25 Marathon 1 Francis X. Schilling Rep. Cassel
2 Oscar Ringle Dem. Wausau
01 Marinette Albert E. Schwittay (died Jan. 19, 1913) Rep. Marinette
James Larson (from Feb. 25, 1913) Ind. Marinette
09 Milwaukee 1 Edwin Hinkel Dem. Milwaukee
2 Thomas A. Manning Dem. Milwaukee
3 David V. Jennings Dem. Milwaukee
05 4 Carl Minkley Soc.D. Milwaukee
08 5 Charles J. Stemper Dem. Milwaukee
05 6 A. J. Hedding Dem. Milwaukee
7 Edward Zinn Soc.D. Milwaukee
08 8 Jacob J. Litza Jr. Dem. Milwaukee
06 9 W. E. Walsh Dem. Milwaukee
04 10 Edward H. Kiefer Soc.D. Milwaukee
08 11 James Vint Soc.D. Milwaukee
12 William L. Smith Soc.D. Milwaukee
04 13 Charles E. Estabrook Rep. Milwaukee
07 14 Martin Gorecki Soc.D. Milwaukee
05 15 August Dietrich Rep. Milwaukee
16 Edward J. Burke Dem. Milwaukee
07 17 John Paulu Dem. Milwaukee
04 18 Joseph F. Smart Dem. Milwaukee
07 19 Luke Scanlan Dem. Oak Creek
31 Monroe A. E. Frederick Rep. Kendall
02 Oconto Robert G. Sharp Rep. Oconto
14 Outagamie 1 Isaac N. Stewart Dem.
2 Charles H. Mory Rep. Cicero
20 Ozaukee Jacob Dietrich Dem. Cedarburg
10 Pierce Cassius D. Hawn Rep. Rock Elm
29 Polk Axel Johnson Rep. Apple River
23 Portage Don C. Hall Rep. Stevens Point
12 Price August Heden Rep. Ogema
03 Racine 1 Charles H. Everett Rep. Racine
2 Joseph C. Hamata Dem. Racine
28 Richland J. B. Jenson Rep. Westford
22 Rock 1 Alexander Paul Dem. Milton
2 Charles D. Rosa Rep. Beloit
12 Rusk & Sawyer Dell H. Richards Rep. Ladysmith
27 Sauk George Carpenter Rep. Baraboo
14 Shawano Thomas J. Mahon Rep. Birnamwood
20 Sheboygan 1 Carl Zillier Dem. Sheboygan
2 Henry Ott Rep. Plymouth
10 St. Croix John A. Chinnock Rep. Hudson
30 Taylor Elias L. Urquhart Rep. Medford
32 Trempealeau L. L. Grinde Rep. Gale
31 Vernon Lawrence Grimsrud Rep. Westby
23 Walworth S. Clayton Goff Rep. Elkhorn
13 Washington Joseph Giudice Dem. Slinger
33 Waukesha 1 Percy Sawyer Rep. Waukesha
2 Judson Hall Dem. Merton
23 Waupaca Andrew R. Potts Rep. Dayton
21 Waushara Michael O'Connor Rep. Hancock
19 Winnebago 1 Martin T. Battis Rep. Oshkosh
2 Charles Schultz Dem. Neenah
3 Wilbur E. Hurlbut Rep. Oshkosh
24 Wood D. D. Conway Dem. Grand Rapids

Changes from the 50th Legislature

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New districts for the 51st Legislature were defined in 1911 Wisconsin Act 661, passed into law in the 50th Wisconsin Legislature.

Senate redistricting

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Summary of changes

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  • 11 districts were left unchanged
  • Dodge County went from having its own district to sharing with Washington County (13).
  • Milwaukee County went from having 5 districts to 6 (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).
  • Rock County went from having its own district to sharing again with Walworth County (22).
  • Only two single-county districts remain (19, 26).

Senate districts

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Dist. 50th Legislature 51st Legislature
1 Door, Kewaunee, Marinette counties Door, Kewaunee, Marinette counties
2 Brown, Oconto counties Brown, Oconto counties
3 Kenosha, Racine counties Kenosha, Racine counties
4 Milwaukee County (northern quarter) Milwaukee County (northern quarter)
5 Milwaukee County (city center) Milwaukee County (central-west)
6 Milwaukee County (city northwest) Milwaukee County (city north)
7 Milwaukee County (southern & west) Milwaukee County (southern)
8 Milwaukee County (city south) Milwaukee County (city south)
9 Adams, Marquette, Waushara, Wood counties Milwaukee County (city center)
10 Pierce, St. Croix counties Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, St. Croix counties
11 Burnett, Douglas, Polk counties Burnett, Douglas, Washburn counties
12 Ashland, Bayfield, Price, Sawyer, Taylor, Washburn counties Ashland, Bayfield, Price, Rusk, Sawyer counties
13 Dodge County Dodge, Washington counties
14 Outagamie, Shawano counties Outagamie, Shawano counties
15 Calumet, Manitowoc counties Calumet, Manitowoc counties
16 Crawford, Grant counties Crawford, Grant, Richland counties
17 Green, Iowa, Lafayette counties Green, Iowa, Lafayette counties
18 Fond du Lac, Green Lake Fond du Lac, Green Lake
19 Winnebago County Winnebago County
20 Ozaukee, Sheboygan county Ozaukee, Sheboygan county
21 Portage, Waupaca counties Adams, Juneau, Marquette, Waushara counties
22 Rock County Rock, Walworth counties
23 Jefferson, Walworth counties Portage, Waupaca counties
24 Chippewa, Eau Claire, Rusk counties Clark, Wood counties
25 Clark, Marathon counties Langlade, Marathon counties
26 Dane County Dane County
27 Columbia, Sauk counties Columbia, Sauk counties
28 Richland, Vernon counties Chippewa, Eau Claire counties
29 Barron, Buffalo, Dunn, Pepin counties Barron, Dunn, Polk counties
30 Florence, Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, Vilas counties Florence, Forest, Iron, Lincoln, Oneida, Taylor, Vilas counties
31 Jackson, Juneau, Monroe counties Jackson, Monroe, Vernon counties
32 La Crosse, Trempealeau counties La Crosse, Trempealeau counties
33 Washington, Waukesha counties Jefferson, Waukesha counties

Assembly redistricting

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Summary of changes

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  • Bayfield County became its own district after previously having been in a shared district with Sawyer and Washburn counties.
  • Eau Claire County went from having 2 districts to 1.
  • Langlade County became its own district after previously having been in a shared district with Florence and Forest counties.
  • Marinette County went from having 2 districts to 1.
  • Milwaukee County went from having 16 districts to 19.
  • Polk County became its own district after previously having been in a shared district with Burnett County.
  • Price and Taylor counties both became independent districts after previously having been in a shared district.
  • Rock County went from having 3 districts to 2.
  • Sauk County went from having 2 districts to 1.
  • Waupaca County went from having 2 districts to 1.

Assembly districts

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County Districts in 50th Legislature Districts in 51st Legislature Change
Adams Shared with Marquette Shared with Marquette  
Ashland 1 District 1 District  
Barron 1 District 1 District  
Bayfield Shared with Sawyer, & Washburn 1 District  
Brown 2 Districts 2 Districts  
Buffalo Shared with Pepin Shared with Pepin  
Burnett Shared with Polk Shared with Washburn  
Calumet 1 District 1 District  
Chippewa 2 Districts 1 District  
Clark 1 District 1 District  
Columbia 2 Districts 1 District  
Crawford 1 District 1 District  
Dane 3 Districts 3 Districts  
Dodge 2 Districts 2 Districts  
Door 1 District 1 District  
Douglas 2 Districts 2 Districts  
Dunn 1 District 1 District  
Eau Claire 2 Districts 1 District  
Florence Shared with Forest & Langlade Shared with Forest & Oneida  
Fond du Lac 2 Districts 2 Districts  
Forest Shared with Florence & Langlade Shared with Florence & Oneida  
Grant 2 Districts 2 Districts  
Green 1 District 1 District  
Green Lake 1 District 1 District  
Iowa 1 District 1 District  
Iron Shared with Oneida, Vilas Shared with Vilas  
Jackson 1 District 1 District  
Jefferson 2 Districts 2 Districts  
Juneau 1 District 1 District  
Kenosha 1 District 1 District  
Kewaunee 1 District 1 District  
La Crosse 2 Districts 2 Districts  
Lafayette 1 District 1 District  
Langlade Shared with Florence & Forest 1 District  
Lincoln 1 District 1 District  
Manitowoc 2 Districts 2 Districts  
Marathon 2 Districts 2 Districts  
Marinette 2 Districts 1 District  
Marquette Shared with Adams Shared with Adams  
Milwaukee 16 Districts 19 Districts   
Monroe 1 District 1 District  
Oconto 1 District 1 District  
Oneida Shared with Iron, Vilas Shared with Florence, Forest  
Outagamie 2 Districts 2 Districts  
Ozaukee 1 District 1 District  
Pepin Shared with Buffalo Shared with Buffalo  
Pierce 1 District 1 District  
Polk Shared with Burnett 1 District  
Portage 1 District 1 District  
Price Shared with Taylor 1 District  
Racine 2 Districts 2 Districts  
Richland 1 District 1 District  
Rock 3 Districts 2 Districts  
Rusk Shared with Chippewa Shared with Sawyer  
Sauk 2 Districts 1 District  
Sawyer Shared with Bayfield & Washburn Shared with Rusk  
Shawano 1 District 1 District  
Sheboygan 2 Districts 2 Districts  
St. Croix 1 District 1 District  
Taylor Shared with Price 1 District  
Trempealeau 1 District 1 District  
Vernon 1 District 1 District  
Vilas Shared with Iron, Oneida Shared with Iron  
Walworth 1 District 1 District  
Washburn Shared with Bayfield & Sawyer Shared with Burnett  
Washington 1 District 1 District  
Waukesha 2 Districts 2 Districts  
Waupaca 2 Districts 1 District  
Waushara 1 District 1 District  
Winnebago 3 Districts 3 Districts  
Wood 1 District 1 District  

Notes

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  1. ^ Republican Edward E. Browne (21st District) resigned March 4, 1913, due to his election to the United States House of Representatives.
  2. ^ Republican Albert E. Schwittay (Marinette District) died January 19, 1913.
  3. ^ Independent James Larson (Marinette District) replaced Albert Schittay.

References

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  1. ^ a b Barish, Lawrence S.; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2021). "Historical Lists" (PDF). State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2021–2022 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 467, 471, 474, 479–480. ISBN 978-1-7333817-1-0. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
  2. ^ Janik, Erika (February 27, 2017). "1904 Fire Gutted Capitol, Nearly Cost Madison State Capitol". Wisconsin Public Radio. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Biographical Sketches". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1913 (Report). Wisconsin Industrial Commission. 1913. pp. 629–690. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
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