The Twenty-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session.
This was the first session since 1856 in which the Democratic Party held control of the Assembly.
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 4, 1873. 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 5, 1872.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Democrat William Robert Taylor, of Dane County, serving the first year of a two-year term, having won election in the 1873 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Major events January 5, 1874: Inauguration of William Robert Taylor as 12th governor of Wisconsin. June 16, 1874: Wisconsin Supreme Court chief justice Luther S. Dixon resigned from the court. Governor William Robert Taylor immediately appointed Milwaukee city attorney Edward George Ryan to become the 5th chief justice. July 1, 1874: The Sholes and Glidden typewriter was first marketed in the United States, it was principally designed by Wisconsin resident C. Latham Sholes. October 9, 1874: The Treaty of Bern was signed, establishing a General Postal Union for the coordination of international mail deliveries. November 25, 1874: The Greenback Party was established as a United States political party, composed mostly of farmers suffering the financial effects of the Panic of 1873.
Major legislation February 26, 1874: An Act to prohibit certain provisions and conditions in contracts, 1874 Act 60. Outlawed contract terms which attempted to remove contract disputes from court jurisdiction. March 7, 1874: Joint Resolution providing for biennial sessions of the legislature and compensation of members, 1874 Joint Resolution 5. Proposed an amendment to the Constitution of Wisconsin to change Assembly terms from one year to two years. This version of the amendment would be defeated, but a later attempt at the same change would be approved in 1882. March 10, 1874: An Act to regulate railroads in certain respects, 1874 Act 227. Required that railroad lines passing through populated areas must make at least one stop in that area per day. March 11, 1874: An Act relating to railroads, express and telegraph companies, in the state of Wisconsin, 1874 Act 273. Implemented regulation of railroad freight and passenger rates, and established the Wisconsin Railroad Commission to enforce the new law. Referred to in historical documents and newspapers as the "Potter Law" for its chief sponsor Robert L. D. Potter. March 12, 1874: An Act in relation to railroads, 1874 Act 341. Declared that all railroad lines in the state would be common carriers, and carry each others passengers and cars without discrimination.
Party summary Senate summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Ref. Lib.R. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 10 0 2 21 33 0 1st Session 12 2 2 17 33 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 9 5 2 17 33 0
Assembly summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Ref. Ind. Lib.R. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 32 0 0 7 61 100 0 1st Session 29 15 3 12 41 100 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 19 13 0 4 64 100 0
Sessions 1st Regular session: January 14, 1874March 12, 1874
Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Charles D. Parker (D) President pro tempore: John Chandler Holloway (R)
Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Gabriel Bouck (D)
Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Twenty-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Sheboygan LyndonDem. 02 Brown, Door, & Kewaunee KewauneeDem. 03 Milwaukee (Northern Part) MilwaukeeDem. 04 Monroe & Vernon TomahRep. 05 Racine Racine Lib.R. 06 Milwaukee (Southern Half) MilwaukeeDem. 07 Dane (Eastern Part) MadisonRep. 08 Kenosha & Walworth WhitewaterRep. 09 Iowa LindenRep. 10 Waukesha MertonDem. 11 Lafayette GratiotRep. 12 Green BrodheadRef. 13 Dodge Beaver DamDem. 14 Sauk Sauk CityRep. 15 Manitowoc ManitowocDem. 16 Grant LancasterRep. 17 Rock BeloitRep. 18 Fond du LacRep. 19 Winnebago OshkoshRep. 20 MarshfieldDem. 21 Marathon, Oconto, Shawano, Waupaca, ShawanoRep. 22 Calumet & Southern Outagamie ChiltonRef. 23 Jefferson MilfordDem. 24 Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Pierce, Polk, Rep. 25 Green Lake, Marquette, & Waushara WautomaRep. 26 Dane (Western Part) MiddletonLib.R. 27 Columbia CourtlandRep. 28 Crawford & Richland Dem. 29 Adams, Juneau, Portage, Grand RapidsRep. 30 Chippewa, Dunn, , Dem. 31 La Crosse La CrosseRep. 32 Buffalo, Clark, Jackson, SumnerRep. 33 Ozaukee & Washington AddisonDem.
Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Twenty-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:
SenateDistrict County Dist. Representative Party Residence 29 Adams & Wood Rep. Dell Prairie 24 Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk Rep. Ashland 02 Brown 1 Ref. Green Bay 2 Rep. Fort Howard 3 Dem. Holland 32 Buffalo Rep. Fountain City 22 Calumet Dem. Harrison 30 Chippewa Rep. Chippewa Falls 32 Clark & Jackson Rep. Melrose 27 Columbia 1 Rep. Newport 2 Rep. Hampden 3 Rep. Wyocena 28 Crawford Ref. Clayton 07 Dane 1 Ind. York 2 Ref. Madison 26 3 Con.D. Vermont 4 Dem. Springdale 13 Dodge 1 Rep. Trenton 2 Dem. Beaver Dam 3 Rep. Chester 4 Dem. Theresa 5 Ref. Hustisford 6 Dem. Ashippun 02 Door Ind. Sturgeon Bay 30 Dunn & Pepin Rep. Waterville Eau Claire Ref. Eau Claire 18 Fond du Lac 1 Ref. Brandon 2 Dem. 20 3 Dem. Empire 16 Grant 1 Dem. Platteville 2 Lib.R. Lancaster 3 Lib.R. Fennimore 4 Rep. Wyalusing 12 Green Rep. Cadiz 25 Green Lake Rep. Green Lake 09 Iowa 1 Lib.R. Arena 2 Rep. Moscow 23 Jefferson 1 Ref. Watertown 2 Dem. Concord 3 Rep. Fort Atkinson 29 Juneau Rep. Necedah 08 Kenosha Ref. Pleasant Prairie 31 La Crosse Lib.R. La Crosse 11 Lafayette Ref. Gratiot 15 Manitowoc 1 Dem. Schleswig 2 Dem. Maple Grove 3 Dem. Manitowoc 21 Marathon Lib.D. Wausau 25 Marquette Dem. Douglas 03 Milwaukee 1 Dem. Milwaukee 2 Ref. Milwaukee 06 3 Dem. Milwaukee 4 Lib.R. Milwaukee 5 Dem. Milwaukee 03 6 Dem. Milwaukee 06 7 Lib.R. Milwaukee 8 Lib.R. Milwaukee 03 9 Dem. Milwaukee 10 Dem. Granville 06 11 Ind. Lake 04 Monroe 1 Rep. Sparta 2 Lib.R. Tomah 21 Oconto Rep. Oconto 22 Outagamie, , 1 Lib.D. Appleton 21 2 Rep. Ellington 3 Rep. Lind 33 Ozaukee 1 Dem. Ozaukee 2 Dem. Mequon 24 Pierce Rep. Union 29 Portage Rep. Stevens Point 05 Racine 1 Dem. Racine 2 Ref. Burlington 28 Richland 1 Rep. Richland Center 2 Rep. Marshall 17 Rock 1 Rep. Magnolia 2 Rep. Milton 3 Rep. Harmony 4 Rep. Beloit 5 Ref. Janesville 14 Sauk 1 Lib.R. Honey Creek 2 Rep. Delton 01Sheboygan 1 Lib.R. Howard's Grove 2 Lib.R. Lyndon 3 Dem. Sheboygan Falls 24 St. Croix Rep. New Richmond 32 Trempealeau Rep. Arcadia 04 Vernon 1 Rep. Sterling 2 Rep. Forest 08 Walworth 1 Rep. Sharon 2 Rep. Spring Prairie 3 Rep. East Troy 33 Washington 1 Dem. Hartford 2 Dem. Trenton 10 Waukesha 1 Dem. Genesee 2 Dem. Brookfield 25 Waushara Rep. Bloomfield 19 Winnebago 1 Dem. Oshkosh 2 Lib.R. Neenah 3 Rep. Oshkosh 4 Rep. Utica
Employees Senate employees Chief Clerk: J. H. Waggoner Assistant Clerk: Robert A. Gillett Bookkeeper: T. S. Ansley Engrossing Clerk: Mrs. Fannie Vilas Enrolling Clerk: W. L. Abbott Transcribing Clerk: John W. Brackett Clerk for the Committee on Engrossed Bills: E. S. Knight Clerk for the Committee on Enrolled Bills: Will Bates Sergeant-at-Arms: O. U. Akin Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: E. J. Cole Postmaster: A. J. White Assistant Postmaster: Nils Michelet Doorkeeper: W. H. Bell Assistant Doorkeeper: M. Lynch Assistant Doorkeeper: M. H. Cram Gallery Doorkeeper: J. A. Newman Gallery Doorkeeper: J. K. Dunn Committee Room Attendant: J. Williams Night Watch: Fred Bright Lt. Governors Messenger: Wendell Paine Clerk's Messenger: Eddie McCurdy Messengers: Fred Richards Daniel Fitzpatrick Charlie Colvin Richard Murphy Marcus Moody
Assembly employees Chief Clerk: George Wilbur Peck Assistant Clerk: Frank Hatch Bookkeeper: J. W. Ryckman Engrossing Clerk: J. C. Eggers Enrolling Clerk: E. C. Enos Transcribing Clerk: G. J. Patton Sergeant-at-Arms: Joseph Deuster Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Columbus Germain Postmaster: Agesilaus Wilson Assistant Postmaster: A. S. Weil Doorkeepers: B. S. Rollin Michael Kelly W. Hyde Night Watch: Bernard C. Wolter Fireman: Felix McLindon Committee Room Attendants: D. S. Harkness W. Hughes Richard Donovan Edward Flaherty Porter: David Goodell Speaker's Messenger: Clinton Snow Chief Clerk's Messenger: Winnie Hassell Sergeant-at-Arms' Messenger: Helson Bronnell Messengers: Charles Johnson Charles Murphy James Foran Frank Dunn Willie Pitman Charlie Whitton Theodore Cooper Walter Reyson
References
External links 1874: Related Documents from Wisconsin Legislature