The Thirty-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session.
This was the first legislative session after the 1880 United States census, and—as prescribed by the Wisconsin Constitution—this legislature attempted to pass a redistricting law. For the first time, the legislature failed in this task due to a technical problem with the proposed legislation—they forgot to include the town of Ridgeway, in Iowa County. The Governor vetoed the legislation due to this technical fault. Since the legislature had already adjourned for the year, it was considered too late to complete redistricting before the 1881 election.
Senators representing odd-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 odd-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 2, 1880. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the second year of their two-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 4, 1879.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican William E. Smith, of Milwaukee County, serving the second year of his second two-year term, having won re-election in the 1879 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Major events January 4, 1881: Joseph E. Darbellay was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Kewaunee County district to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of John Milton Read. January 26, 1881: Philetus Sawyer elected United States Senator by the Wisconsin Legislature in Joint Session. February 24, 1881: Wisconsin's senior United States Senator Matthew H. Carpenter died of kidney disease in Washington, D.C. March 4, 1881: Inauguration of James A. Garfield as the 20th President of the United States. March 13, 1881: Tsar Alexander II of Russia was assassinated in Saint Petersburg. March 14, 1881: Angus Cameron elected United States Senator by the Wisconsin Legislature in Joint Session. April 4, 1881: Wisconsin Governor William E. Smith vetoed the proposed legislative redistricting act due to a technical flaw in the legislation. May 21, 1881: American Red Cross was founded at Dansville, New York. July 2, 1881: U.S. President James A. Garfield was shot by an assassin in Washington, D.C. September 19, 1881: U.S. President James A. Garfield died of an infected gunshot wound. September 20, 1881: Inauguration of Chester A. Arthur as the 21st President of the United States. November 8, 1881: Jeremiah McLain Rusk elected Governor of Wisconsin. November 8, 1881: At the state's general election, Wisconsin voters approved an amendment to the Constitution of Wisconsin. The amendment doubled the terms of Wisconsin legislators—Assembly terms went from 1 year to 2 years; Senate terms went from 2 years to 4 years. The amendment also adjusted the frequency of legislative sessions from annual to biennial, with new sessions beginning in odd-numbered years.
Major legislation March 19, 1881: An Act to provide for more light on various subjects, 1881 Act 110. Directed the governor to implement electric lighting in the Wisconsin capitol building. April 2, 1881: An Act relating to state officers and making the railroad commissioner and commissioner of insurance elective, as other state officers, and prescribing their duties and salary, and amendatory of sections one hundred and twenty-eight and one thousand nine hundred and sixty-seven of the revised statutes, and to repeal section one thousand seven hundred and ninety-two of the revised statutes, and amendatory of section six of chapter two hundred and forty of the laws of 1880, 1881 Act 300. Converted the offices of insurance commissioner and railroad commissioner to statewide elected offices, rather than gubernatorial appointees. Joint Resolution amending sections number four, five, eleven and twenty-one, article four of the constitution of the state of Wisconsin, 1881 Joint Resolution 7. This was the required second legislative resolution supporting the amendment to change the length of legislative terms. The amendment was ratified by voters in the November 1881 general election. Joint Resolution proposing amendments to section four of article six, section twelve of article seven, and section one of article thirteen of the constitution of the state of Wisconsin, so as to provide for biennial general elections, 1881 Joint Resolution 16. Proposed changes to the state constitution to bring all terms for county officers into uniformity, with elections taking place in even-numbered years. This was the first legislative approval for this amendment, a second legislative approval was passed in 1882, and the amendment was ratified by the voters in the November 1882 general election.
Party summary Senate summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 8 25 33 0 1st Session 9 24 33 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 10 23 33 0
Assembly summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Gbk. Ind. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 28 2 0 70 100 0 1st Session 21 0 0 79 100 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 34 0 2 64 100 0
Sessions 1st Regular session: January 12, 1881April 4, 1881
Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: James M. Bingham (R) President pro tempore: Thomas B. Scott (R)
Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Ira B. Bradford (R)
Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Thirty-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature:
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto, & Shawano Peshtigo Rep. 02 Brown Green Bay Rep. 03 Racine Racine Rep. 04 Crawford & Vernon Prairie du Chien Rep. 05 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 06 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 07 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 08 Kenosha & Walworth KenoshaRep. 09 Green Lake, Marquette, HancockRep. 10 Waukesha LisbonDem. 11 Chippewa, Clark, Lincoln, Price, Taylor, Grand RapidsRep. 12 Green & Lafayette ShullsburgRep. 13 Dodge MayvilleDem. 14 Juneau & Sauk BarabooRep. 15 Manitowoc ManitowocDem. 16 Grant LancasterRep. 17 Rock JanesvilleRep. 18 RiponRep. 19 Winnebago NeenahRep. 20 Sheboygan Plymouth Dem. 21 Marathon, Portage, WausauRep. 22 Calumet & Outagamie Harrison Dem. 23 Jefferson Watertown Dem. 24 Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, AshlandRep. 25 Dane MadisonRep. 26 Dane (Western Part) Cross PlainsDem. 27 Adams & Columbia Lodi Rep. 28 Iowa & Richland Richland Rep. 29 Buffalo, Pepin, Fountain City Rep. 30 Dunn, , Rep. 31 La Crosse La Crosse Rep. 32 Jackson Black River Falls Rep. 33 Ozaukee & Washington Dem.
Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Thirty-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature:
SenateDistrict County Dist. Representative Party Residence 27 Adams Rep. Friendship 24 Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Rep. Osceola 02 Brown 1 Rep. Green Bay 2 Rep. Fort Howard 3 Dem. Morrison 29 Buffalo & Pepin 1 Rep. Alma 2 Rep. Durand 22 Calumet Dem. New Holstein 11 Chippewa Dem. Chippewa Falls Clark, Lincoln, Taylor Rep. Jenny 27 Columbia 1 Rep. Portage 2 Rep. Cambria 04 Crawford Rep. Soldiers Grove 26 Dane 1 Dem. Mazomanie 25 2 Rep. Stoughton 3 Rep. Cottage Grove 13 Dodge 1 Dem. Ashippun 2 Dem. Iron Ridge 3 Rep. Waupun 4 Rep. Beaver Dam 01 Door Rep. Fish Creek 30 Dunn Rep. Rock Creek Eau Claire Rep. Augusta 18 Fond du Lac 1 Dem. Brandon 2 Rep. Waupun 3 Rep. Fond du Lac 20 4 Dem. Marshfield 16 Grant 1 Rep. Smelser 2 Rep. Lancaster 3 Rep. Millville 12 Green 1 Rep. Monticello 2 Rep. Brodhead 09 Green Lake Rep. Markesan 28 Iowa 1 Dem. Dodgeville 2 Rep. Mifflin 32 Jackson Rep. Merrillan 23 Jefferson 1 Dem. Ixonia 2 Rep. Johnson Creek 3 Dem. Fort Atkinson 14 Juneau 1 Rep. Wonewoc 2 Rep. Necedah 08 Kenosha Rep. Somers 01 Kewaunee Dem. Kewaunee 31 La Crosse Rep. Bangor 11 Lafayette 1 Rep. Darlington 2 Rep. Benton 15 Manitowoc 1 Dem. Rockland 2 Dem. Mishicot 3 Rep. Manitowoc 21 Marathon Dem. Wausau 09 Marquette Ind.R. Montello 05 Milwaukee 1 Rep. Milwaukee 07 2 Rep. Milwaukee 3 Dem. Milwaukee 4 Rep. Milwaukee 06 5 Rep. Milwaukee 05 6 Rep. Milwaukee 07 7 Rep. Milwaukee 06 8 Rep. Milwaukee 05 9 Rep. Milwaukee 10 Rep. Milwaukee 06 11 Rep. Bay View 32 Monroe 1 Rep. Leon 2 Rep. Wilton 01 Langlade, Marinette, Oconto & Shawano Rep. Oconto 22 Outagamie 1 Dem. Appleton 2 Rep. Hortonville 33 Ozaukee Ind.D. Port Washington 30 Pierce Rep. Ellsworth 21 Portage Rep. Stevens Point 03 Racine 1 Rep. Racine 2 Rep. Western Union Junction 28 Richland 1 Rep. Cazenovia 2 Rep. Eagle 17 Rock 1 Rep. Evansville 2 Rep. Janesville 3 Rep. Harmony 14 Sauk 1 Rep. Ironton 2 Rep. Delton 20 Sheboygan 1 Dem. Howards Grove 2 Rep. Plymouth 3 Rep. Lima 24 St. Croix Rep. Hudson 29 Trempealeau Rep. Pigeon Falls 04 Vernon 1 Rep. Utica 2 Rep. Liberty 08 Walworth 1 Rep. Lyons 2 Rep. Delavan 3 Rep. Troy 33 Washington 1 Dem. Germantown 2 Dem. Barton 10 Waukesha 1 Rep. Eagle 2 Rep. Menomonee Falls 21 Waupaca 1 Rep. Royalton 2 Rep. Bear Creek 09 Waushara Rep. Hancock 19 Winnebago 1 Rep. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Menasha 3 Rep. Oshkosh 4 Rep. Utica
Employees Senate employees Chief Clerk: Charles E. Bross Assistant Clerk: Charles N. Herreid Bookkeeper: Oliver Munson Engrossing Clerk: John P. Mitchell Enrolling Clerk: L. J. Burlingame Transcribing Clerk: C. Ingersoll Proofreader: Henry Eduard Legler Clerk for the Judiciary Committee: Charles Simeon Taylor Clerk for the Committee on Enrolled Bills: R. B. Blackstone Document Clerk: Frank Hutson Sergeant-at-Arms: W. W. Baker Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Charles A. Langridge Postmaster: J. L. Thwing Assistant Postmaster: L. E. Spencer Gallery Attendant: J. J. Marshall Doorkeepers: F. O. Janzen M. Quinn F. R. Sebenthal D. J. F. Murphy Porter: O. L. Wright Night Watch: A. J. Marsh Janitor: Ole Stephenson President's Messenger: Ralph Irish Chief Clerk's Messenger: J. G. Hyland Messengers: Perry Carrell William Burnett John L. Bohm Charles Bucey Albert Fontaine George Kinney
Assembly employees Chief Clerk: John E. Eldred 1st Assistant Clerk: J. F. A. Williams 2nd Assistant Clerk: Peter Philippi Bookkeeper: J. T. Huntington Engrossing Clerk: P. H. Swift Enrolling Clerk: George E. Weatherby Transcribing Clerk: Francis Stirn Proof Reader: Fred W. Coon Sergeant-at-Arms: George W. Church Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: J. B. Perry Postmaster: W. W. Sturtevant Assistant Postmaster: George Slingsby Doorkeepers: R. N. Potter Charles Rediske W. L. Peterson Darwin C. Pavey Gallery Attendant: L. T. Stohland Night Watch: Lonis J. Neiman Wash Room Attendant: Frank Lynch Messengers: Eddie Cavanaugh Thomas Gillespie Thomas Wilkinson William A. Price Hugh Edwards James Daley Fred Moll Hayes Selden Louis E. Bainbridge Thomas Bullock R. G. Thomas Frederick G. Isenring
References
External links 1881: Related Documents from Wisconsin Legislature