The Thirty-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular 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 4, 1884. 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 7, 1882.

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Jeremiah M. Rusk, of Vernon County, serving his second two-year term, having won re-election in the 1884 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events January 27, 1885: John Coit Spooner elected United States Senator by the Wisconsin Legislature in Joint Session. February 16, 1885: Charles Dow published the first edition of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. March 4, 1885: Inauguration of Grover Cleveland as the 22nd President of the United States. March 12, 1885: Wisconsin state legislator William Freeman Vilas was confirmed as United States Postmaster General. March 26, 1885: Prussia began deporting Poles and Jews from their territory. June 17, 1885: The Statue of Liberty arrived at New York Harbor. May 1, 1886: A general strike began in the United States. May 4, 1886: Wisconsin National Guard soldiers fired at a group of striking workers in Bay View, Milwaukee, killing seven, in an incident known as the Bay View massacre. May 17, 1886: The United States Supreme Court, in the case Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad Co., held that corporations had the same rights as living persons. September 4, 1886: Apache leader Geronimo surrendered to U.S. Army forces at Skeleton Canyon, Arizona. September 9, 1886: The Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works was signed in Bern, Switzerland. November 2, 1886: Jeremiah McLain Rusk re-elected as Governor of Wisconsin.

Major legislation March 9, 1885: An Act relating to fire escapes, and amendatory of section 4575a, of the revised statutes, 1885 Act 50. Required easy-to-access metallic or fire-proof fire escape ladders for buildings taller than three floors. March 23, 1885: An Act to regulate the practice of dentistry, and to establish a state board of dental examiners, 1885 Act 129. Joint Resolution to amend section 1, article 10, of the constitution, relating to education, 1885 Joint Resolution 34. Proposed an amendment to the Constitution of Wisconsin to clarify the wording of the section defining the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin and other education-supervision officers. The proposed amendment would also remove the maximum compensation limit for the Superintendent, which had been set at $1200 per year.

Party summary Senate summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Peo. Ind. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 15 0 0 17 32 1 1st Session 13 0 0 20 33 0 From Mar. 8, 1886 12 32 1 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 6 1 1 25 33 0

Assembly summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Gbk. Trades Assm. Peo. Ind. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 53 1 2 0 1 43 100 0 Start of 1st Session 39 0 0 0 0 61 100 0 From Mar. 9, 1885Democrat William Freeman Vilas (Dane County 1st district) resigned March 9, 1885, to accept appointment as United States Postmaster General. 38 99 1 From Mar. 25, 1885Democrat Michael J. Cantwell (Dane County 1st district) replaced William Freeman Vilas. 39 100 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 34 0 0 5 4 57 100 0

Sessions 1st Regular session: January 14, 1885April 13, 1885

Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Sam S. Fifield (R) President pro tempore: Edward S. Minor (R)

Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Hiram O. Fairchild (R)

Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Thirty-Seventh 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 Chaseburg Rep. 05 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 06 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 07 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 08 Kenosha & Walworth SomersRep. 09 Green Lake, Portage, HancockRep. 10 Waukesha EagleRep. 11 Ashland, Clark, Lincoln, Price, Taylor, NeillsvilleRep. 12 Green & Lafayette ArgyleRep. 13 Dodge Beaver DamDem. 14 Juneau & Sauk LoganvilleRep. 15 Manitowoc MeemeDem. 16 Grant MillvilleRep. 17 Rock EdgertonRep. 18 Fond du LacRep. 19 Winnebago Oshkosh Dem. 20 Sheboygan Eden Dem. 21 Marathon, Shawano, Wausau Dem. 22 Calumet & Outagamie Appleton Dem. 23 Jefferson Jefferson Dem. 24 Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Polk, , St. Croix Falls Rep. 25 Eau Claire, Pepin, Ellsworth Rep. 26 Dane Madison Dem. 27 Adams, Columbia Portage Rep. 28 Iowa & Richland Richland Center 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-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:

SenateDistrict County Dist. Representative Party Residence 27 Adams Rep. New Chester 11 Ashland, Lincoln, Price, Rep. Medford 24 Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Rep. Barron 02 Brown 1 Dem. De Pere 2 Dem. Fort Howard 29 Buffalo Rep. Mondovi 22 Calumet 1 Dem. Appleton 2 Dem. Seymour 3 Dem. Kaukauna 4 Dem. Stockbridge 30 Chippewa Rep. Chippewa Falls 11 Clark Rep. Neillsville 27 Columbia 1 Rep. Portage 2 Rep. Fall River 04 Crawford Dem. Bell Center 26 Dane 1 Dem. Madison Dem. Madison 2 Rep. Sun Prairie 3 Rep. Madison 4 Rep. Oregon 5 Dem. Westport 13 Dodge 1 Dem. Elba 2 Dem. Juneau 3 Dem. Lomira 4 Dem. Lowell 01 Door Dem. Forestville 30 Dunn Rep. Tiffany 25 Eau Claire Rep. Eau Claire 01 Florence Rep. Marinette 18 Fond du Lac 1 Rep. Springvale 2 Rep. Fond du Lac 20 3 Dem. Marshfield 16 Grant 1 Rep. Platteville 2 Dem. Lancaster 3 Rep. Mount Hope 12 Green 1 Rep. Albany 2 Rep. Monroe 09 Green Lake Rep. Marquette 28 Iowa 1 Rep. Mineral Point 2 Rep. Mifflin 32 Jackson Rep. Millston 23 Jefferson 1 Dem. Watertown 2 Dem. Fort Atkinson 14 Juneau Rep. Elroy 08 Kenosha Rep. Salem 01 Kewaunee Dem. Kewaunee 31 La Crosse Rep. Shelby 12 Lafayette 1 Rep. Wiota 2 Dem. Shullsburg 01 Langlade & Oconto Rep. Oconto 15 Manitowoc 1 Dem. Maple Grove 2 Dem. Kossuth 3 Rep. Manitowoc 21 Marathon Dem. Mosinee 05 Milwaukee 1 Dem. Milwaukee 07 2 Dem. Milwaukee 3 Dem. Milwaukee 4 Rep. Milwaukee 06 5 Dem. Milwaukee 05 6 Rep. Milwaukee 07 7 Rep. Milwaukee 06 8 Dem. Milwaukee 05 9 Dem. Milwaukee 10 Rep. Milwaukee 11 Rep. Whitefish Bay 06 12 Rep. Bay View 32 Monroe 1 Rep. Sparta 2 Rep. Sheldon 33 Ozaukee Dem. Fredonia 25 Pepin Rep. Durand Pierce Rep. River Falls 24 Polk Rep. Clear Lake 09 Portage Rep. Stevens Point 03 Racine 1 Rep. Racine 2 Dem. Norway 28 Richland Rep. Buena Vista 17 Rock 1 Rep. Plymouth 2 Rep. Janesville 3 Rep. Milton 14 Sauk 1 Dem. Spring Green 2 Rep. Winfield 21 Shawano Rep. Shawano 20 Sheboygan 1 Dem. Elkhart Lake 2 Dem. Greenbush 3 Rep. Holland 24 St. Croix Rep. New Richmond 29 Trempealeau Rep. Hale 04 Vernon 1 Rep. Jefferson 2 Rep. Whitestown 08 Walworth 1 Rep. Darien 2 Rep. Lake Geneva 33 Washington 1 Dem. Erin 2 Dem. Farmington 10 Waukesha Rep. Waukesha 21 Waupaca 1 Rep. Waupaca 2 Rep. Marion 09 Waushara Rep. Bloomfield 19 Winnebago 1 Dem. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Neenah 3 Rep. Omro 11 Wood Dem. Centralia

Committees Senate committees Senate Committee on Agriculture Senate Committee on Assessment and Collection of Taxes Senate Committee on Education Senate Committee on Enrolled Bills Senate Committee on Engrossed 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 AgricultureChester Hazen, chair Assembly Committee on Assessment and Collection of TaxesC. E. Estabrook, chair Assembly Committee on Bills on their Third ReadingJohn K. Parish, chair Assembly Committee on CitiesJ. E. Friend, chair Assembly Committee on EducationC. E. Buell, chair Assembly Committee on Engrossed BillsSamuel B. Stanchfield, chair Assembly Committee on Enrolled BillsR. W. Pierce, chair Assembly Committee on Federal RelationsA. W. Sanborn, chair Assembly Committee on IncorporationsMarion Wescott, chair Assembly Committee on Insurance, Banks, and BankingW. H. Blyton, chair Assembly Committee on the JudiciaryPliny Norcross, chair Assembly Committee on Legislative ExpendituresS. D. Hubbard, chair Assembly Committee on Lumber and ManufacturesThomas B. Mills, chair Assembly Committee on Medical SocietiesJ. C. Reynolds, chair Assembly Committee on MilitiaF. W. Byers, chair Assembly Committee on Privileges and ElectionsCharles G. Thomas, chair Assembly Committee on Public ImprovementsM. C. Hobart, chair Assembly Committee on RailroadsH. J. Goddard, chair Assembly Committee on Roads and BridgesGeorge G. Cox, chair Assembly Committee on State LandsS. R. Clark, chair Assembly Committee on State AffairsL. J. Brayton, chair Assembly Committee on Town and County OrganizationWilliam H. Young, chair Assembly Committee on Ways and MeansThomas Porter, chair

Joint committees Joint Committee on Charitable and Penal Institutions Joint Committee on Claims Joint Committee on Printing

Employees Senate employees Chief Clerk: Charles E. Bross Assistant Clerk: Fred W. Coon Bookkeeper: J. H. Whitney Engrossing Clerk: J. M. Hayden Enrolling Clerk: E. S. Hotchkiss Transcribing Clerk: F. J. Turner Proofreader: Adelbert D. Thorp Clerk for the Judiciary Committee: Willard W. D. Turner Clerk for the Committee on Enrolled Bills: John O. Newgard Clerk for the Committee on Engrossed Bills: John O. Newgard Clerk for the Committee on Claims: John O. Newgard Document Clerk: J. J. Marshall Sergeant-at-Arms: Hubert Wolcott Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: T. J. George Postmaster: J. F. McKenzie Assistant Postmaster: George A. Ludington Gallery Attendant: Michael Bransfield Document Room Attendant: Frank Partridge Doorkeepers: John C. Frisvold Frederick H. Johnson Alvah Eaton William Crank Porter: O. J. Wiley Night Watch: H. Worthington Janitor: Daniel Corbett Messengers: W. M. Smith Ben Smith Lemuel Parry Elliot B. Davis Ferdinand Werner Adolph Glenz Willis Melville Werner Pressentine Guy Paine

Assembly employees Chief Clerk: Edwin Coe 1st Assistant Clerk: John W. DeGroff 2nd Assistant Clerk: Theodore W. Goldin Bookkeeper: J. T. Huntington Engrossing Clerk: Egbert Wyman Enrolling Clerk: L. J. Burlingame Transcribing Clerk: Ellis C. Oliver Proofreader: D. P. Beach Clerk for the Judiciary Committee: Frank D. Jackson Clerk for the Committee on Enrolled Bills: Robert W. Pierce Jr. Clerk for the Committee on Engrossed Bills: Warren Meiklejohn Document Clerk: H. G. Brown Sergeant-at-Arms: John M. Ewing Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: William A. Adamson Postmaster: J. H. Young Assistant Postmaster: Frank M. Durkee Doorkeepers: W. A. Mayhew G. W. Dart A. A. Curtis Fred Dewey Fireman: W. J. Bendixon Gallery Attendants: Goetlieb Schuebbert W. Muntz Committee Room Attendant: L. B. Kinney Document Room Attendant: John H. Pulcifer Porter: James Nolan Policeman: Ed. Dempey Flagman: F. O. Janzen Night Watch: Michael J. Wallrich Wash Room Attendant: Bertie Oftelie Messengers: James Howley Willie Gillett Willie Baker Herman Schulze Eugene Wescott Charles McGee