The Thirty-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session.
This was the first legislative session after the redistricting of the Senate and Assembly according to an act of the previous session.
This session also saw the implementation of an 1881 amendment to the Constitution of Wisconsin. The amendment converted the Legislature from annual sessions to biennial sessions, and doubled the length of terms for legislative officeholders.
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 7, 1882. Senators representing even-numbered districts had been elected in the general election of November 8, 1881, and their term was extended from two years to three years, with the end of their term coinciding with the end of this (36th) legislative term.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Jeremiah M. Rusk, of Vernon County, serving the second year of a two-year term, having won election in the 1881 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Major events January 10, 1883: The Newhall House Hotel Fire in Milwaukee killed 73 people, including former Wisconsin state senator and judge George B. Reed. January 20, 1883: The 1883 Tehachapi train wreck resulted in 15 deaths, including former Wisconsin congressman Charles H. Larrabee. October 15, 1883: The United States Supreme Court decided the Civil Rights Cases, striking down parts of the Civil Rights Act of 1875 and permitting individuals and corporations to discriminate based on race. November 8, 1883: The partially-constructed south wing of the Wisconsin State Capitol collapsed, killing six laborers and wounding 15 others. November 15, 1883: The United States and Canada implemented five standard time zones for the North American continent. April 20, 1884: Pope Leo XIII published the encyclical Humanum genus, denouncing Freemasonry and certain liberal beliefs which he considered to be associated with it. May 1, 1884: The eight-hour workday was proclaimed by the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions in the United States. The date would later become recognized in nearly every industrialized country as May Day or Labour Day. October 22, 1884: The International Meridian Conference in Washington, D.C., established the Greenwich meridian as the prime meridian. November 4, 1884: 1884 United States general election: Grover Cleveland elected President of the United States. Jeremiah McLain Rusk re-elected as Governor of Wisconsin. December 6, 1884: The Washington Monument was completed in Washington, D.C., becoming the tallest structure in the world at that time.
Major legislation March 9, 1883: An Act relating to electors and general elections, and amendatory of sections 12 and 14, chapter 5, of the revised statutes, 1883 Act 29. Established that eligible voters in Wisconsin can vote in any precinct where they had been residents for at least ten days prior to the election. It also established that a person could be disqualified from voting if they were convicted of bribery, or found to be gambling on election outcomes. April 3, 1883: An act to create a bureau of labor statistics, 1883 Act 319.
Party summary Senate summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 10 23 33 0 Start of 1st Session 15 18 33 0 From April 1883 17 32 1 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 13 20 33 0
Assembly summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Gbk. Trades Assm. Ind. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 34 0 0 2 64 100 0 1st Session 53 1 2 1 43 100 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 39 0 0 0 61 100 0
Sessions 1st Regular session: January 10, 1883April 4, 1883
Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Sam S. Fifield (R) President pro tempore: George W. Ryland (R)
Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Earl Finch (D)
Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Thirty-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature:
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Florence, Kewaunee, Langlade, Marinette, Sturgeon Bay Rep. 02 Brown Green Bay Dem. 03 Racine Racine Dem. 04 Crawford & Vernon Whitestown Rep. 05 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 06 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 07 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 08 Kenosha & Walworth GenevaRep. 09 Green Lake, Portage, HancockRep. 10 Waukesha OconomowocDem. 11 Ashland, Clark, Lincoln, Price, Taylor, Grand RapidsRep. 12 Green & Lafayette BrodheadRep. 13 Dodge Beaver DamDem. 14 Juneau & Sauk NecedahRep. 15 Manitowoc MeemeDem. 16 Grant LancasterRep. 17 Rock EdgertonRep. 18 Fond du LacRep. 19 Winnebago Oshkosh Dem. 20 Sheboygan Plymouth Dem. 21 Marathon, Shawano, Wausau Dem. 22 Calumet & Outagamie Appleton Dem. 23 Jefferson Jefferson Dem. 24 Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, Warren Rep. 25 Eau Claire, Pepin, Ellsworth Rep. 26 Dane Black Earth Dem. 27 Adams, Columbia Portage Rep. 28 Iowa & Richland Arena Rep. 29 Buffalo Arcadia Rep. 30 Chippewa Rep. 31 La Crosse La CrosseDem. 32 Jackson Tomah Rep. 33 Ozaukee & Washington Dem.
Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Thirty-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature:
SenateDistrict County Dist. Representative Party Residence 27 Adams Dem. Westfield 11 Ashland, Lincoln, Price, Rep. Merrill 24 Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Rep. Grantsburg 02 Brown 1 Dem. Green Bay 2 Rep. Fort Howard 29 Buffalo Rep. Alma 22 Calumet 1 Dem. Mackville 2 Dem. New London 3 Dem. Appleton 4 Dem. Chilton 30 Chippewa Dem. Chippewa Falls 11 Clark Dem. Neillsville 27 Columbia 1 Rep. Dekorra 2 Rep. Columbus 04 Crawford Dem. Bell Center 26 Dane 1 Dem. Madison 2 Rep. Windsor 3 Rep. Madison 4 Rep. Primrose 5 Dem. Middleton 13 Dodge 1 Dem. Beaver Dam 2 Rep. Juneau 3 Dem. Mayville 4 Dem. Ashippun 01 Door Rep. Sturgeon Bay 30 Dunn Rep. Menomonie 25 Eau Claire Dem. Eau Claire 01 Florence Rep. Marinette 18 Fond du Lac 1 Rep. Ripon 2 Rep. Fond du Lac 20 3 Dem. Forest 16 Grant 1 Rep. Platteville 2 Dem. Lancaster 3 Rep. Millville 12 Green 1 Rep. York 2 Rep. Monroe 09 Green Lake Dem. Kingston 28 Iowa 1 Dem. Ridgeway 2 Dem. Highland 32 Jackson Rep. City Point 23 Jefferson 1 Dem. Ixonia 2 Dem. Fort Atkinson 14 Juneau Dem. Wonewoc 08 Kenosha Rep. Somers 01 Kewaunee Dem. Kewaunee 31 La Crosse Dem. La Crosse 12 Lafayette 1 Dem. Gratiot 2 Dem. Shullsburg 01 Langlade & Oconto Dem. Oconto 15 Manitowoc 1 Dem. Maple Grove 2 Dem. Two Rivers 3 Dem. Centerville 21 Marathon Ind. D. Wausau 05 Milwaukee 1 Dem. Milwaukee 07 2 Dem. Milwaukee 3 Trades Assm. Milwaukee 4 Rep. Milwaukee 06 5 Trades Assm. Milwaukee 05 6 Dem. Milwaukee 07 7 Rep. Milwaukee 06 8 Dem. Milwaukee 05 9 Dem. Milwaukee 10 Rep. Milwaukee 11 Dem. Granville 06 12 Dem. Franklin 32 Monroe 1 Rep. Sparta 2 Dem. Tomah 33 Ozaukee Dem. Fredonia 25 Pepin Rep. Durand Pierce Dem. River Falls 24 Polk Rep. Osceola 09 Portage Rep. Plover 03 Racine 1 Dem. Racine 2 Dem. Norway 28 Richland Rep. Buena Vista 17 Rock 1 Rep. Avon 2 Rep. Janesville 3 Rep. Clinton 14 Sauk 1 Ind. Sauk City 2 Rep. Baraboo 21 Shawano Ind. D. Shawano 20 Sheboygan 1 Dem. Elkhart Lake 2 Dem. Plymouth 3 Dem. Wilson 24 St. Croix Rep. Boardman 29 Trempealeau Rep. Ettrick 04 Vernon 1 Gbk. Franklin 2 Rep. Viroqua 08 Walworth 1 Rep. Sugar Creek 2 Rep. Spring Prairie 33 Washington 1 Dem. Richfield 2 Dem. Farmington 10 Waukesha Dem. Eagle 21 Waupaca 1 Rep. Weyauwega 2 Dem. Matteson 09 Waushara Rep. Wautoma 19 Winnebago 1 Dem. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Winneconne 3 Rep. Oshkosh 11 Wood Rep. Grand Rapids
Committees Senate committees Senate Committee on Agriculture Senate Committee on Assessment and Collection of Taxes Senate Committee on Education Senate Committee on Engrossed Bills Senate Committee on Enrolled Bills Senate Committee on Federal Relations Senate Committee on Finance, Banks, and Insurance Senate Committee on Incorporations Senate Committee on the Judiciary Senate Committee on Legislative Expenditures Senate Committee on Manufactures and Commerce Senate Committee on Military Affairs Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections Senate Committee on Public Lands Senate Committee on Railroads Senate Committee on Roads and Bridges Senate Committee on State Affairs Senate Committee on Town and County Organizations
Assembly committees Assembly Committee on Agriculture Assembly Committee on Assessment and Collection of Taxes Assembly Committee on Bills on their Third Reading Assembly Committee on Cities Assembly Committee on Education Assembly Committee on Engrossed Bills Assembly Committee on Enrolled Bills Assembly Committee on Federal Relations Assembly Committee on Incorporations Assembly Committee on Insurance, Banks, and Banking Assembly Committee on the Judiciary Assembly Committee on Legislative Expenditures Assembly Committee on Lumber and Manufactures Assembly Committee on Medical Societies Assembly Committee on Militia Assembly Committee on Privileges and Elections Assembly Committee on Public Improvements Assembly Committee on Public Lands Assembly Committee on Railroads Assembly Committee on Roads and Bridges Assembly Committee on State Affairs Assembly Committee on Town and County Organization Assembly Committee on Ways and Means
Joint committees Joint Committee on Charitable and Penal Institutions Joint Committee on Claims Joint Committee on Printing
Changes from the 35th Legislature New districts for the 36th Legislature were defined in 1882 Wisconsin Act 242, passed into law in the 35th Wisconsin Legislature.
Senate redistricting Summary of changes 23 Senate districts were left unchanged (or were only renumbered). Dane County went from having 2 districts to 1 (26).
Partisan implications Republicans had 18 safe seats, down from 20. Democrats had 6 safe seats, no change from the previous map. 9 seats were competitive, up from 7.
Senate districts
Dist. 35th Legislature 36th Legislature 1 Door, Kewaunee, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto, Shawano counties Door, Florence, Kewaunee, Langlade, Marinette, Oconto counties 2 Brown County Brown County 3 Racine County Racine County 4 Crawford, Vernon counties Crawford, Vernon counties 5 Northern Milwaukee County Northern Milwaukee County 6 Southern Milwaukee County Southern Milwaukee County 7 Central Milwaukee County Central Milwaukee County 8 Kenosha, Walworth counties Kenosha, Walworth counties 9 Green Lake, Marquette, Waushara counties Green Lake, Portage, Waushara counties 10 Waukesha County Waukesha County 11 Chippewa, Clark, Lincoln, Price, Taylor, Wood counties Ashland, Clark, Lincoln, Price, Taylor, Wood counties 12 Green, Lafayette counties Green, Lafayette counties 13 Dodge County Dodge County 14 Juneau, Sauk counties Juneau, Sauk counties 15 Manitowoc County Manitowoc County 16 Grant County Grant County 17 Rock County Rock County 18 Western Fond du Lac County Western Fond du Lac County 19 Winnebago County Winnebago County 20 Sheboygan, Eastern Fond du Lac counties Sheboygan, Eastern Fond du Lac counties 21 Marathon, Portage, Waupaca counties Marathon, Shawano, Waupaca counties 22 Calumet, Outagamie counties Calumet, Outagamie counties 23 Jefferson County Jefferson County 24 Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, counties Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, counties 25 Eastern Dane County Eau Claire, Pepin, Pierce counties 26 Western Dane County Dane County 27 Adams, Columbia counties Adams, Columbia, Marquette counties 28 Iowa, Richland counties Iowa, Richland counties 29 Buffalo, Pepin, Trempealeau counties Buffalo, Trempealeau counties 30 Dunn, Eau Claire, Pierce counties Chippewa, Dunn counties 31 La Crosse County La Crosse County 32 Jackson & Monroe counties Jackson & Monroe counties 33 Ozaukee, Washington counties Ozaukee, Washington counties
Assembly redistricting Summary of changes