The 42nd Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session. They convened again in special session in February 1896 to pass a legislative redistricting law.

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 6, 1894. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 8, 1892.

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican William H. Upham, of Wood County, serving a two-year term, having won election in the 1894 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events January 7, 1895: Inauguration of William H. Upham as 18th Governor of Wisconsin. February 25, 1895: The first rebellions of the Cuban War of Independence began. May 27, 1895: The United States Supreme Court, in the case In re Debs, ruled that the United States government had the authority to regulate interstate commerce. July 14, 1895: Wisconsin Supreme Court chief justice Harlow S. Orton died in office. He was succeeded as chief justice by John B. Cassoday by rule of seniority. August 5, 1895: Roujet D. Marshall was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Harlow S. Orton. January 4, 1896: Utah was admitted as the 45th U.S. state. May 18, 1896: The United States Supreme Court, in the case Plessy v. Ferguson, ruled that racial segregation was legal as long as facilities were "equal", later referred to as the "separate but equal" doctrine. May 25, 1896: Former three-term Wisconsin Governor and Union Army general Lucius Fairchild died in Madison. June 6, 1896: U.S. President Grover Cleveland signed the "Filled Cheese Act", which established a prohibitive tax on cheese products that had been enhanced with vegetable oil or other fats. This law was proposed by Wisconsin congressman Samuel A. Cook, and was part of a decades-long effort by Wisconsin's congressional delegation to prohibit selling margarine or other alternatives to dairy products. July 9, 1896: William Jennings Bryan delivered his famous Cross of Gold speech at the 1896 Democratic National Convention. August 23, 1896: The Cry of Pugad Lawin initiated the Philippine Revolution. November 3, 1896: 1896 United States general election: William McKinley elected President of the United States. Edward Scofield elected Governor of Wisconsin. Wisconsin voters rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to allow the Legislature to set the salary of the state superintendent of public instruction.

Major legislation Joint Resolution agreeing to a proposed amendment to section 1, article 10, of the constitution of the state of Wisconsin, 1895 Joint Resolution 2. Joint Resolution that section 7, article 7, constitution of Wisconsin, relating to circuit courts be amended so as to read as follows, 1895 Joint Resolution 8. Proposed an amendment to the state constitution to allow counties with large populations to have more than one circuit judge. 1896 Wisc. Special Session Act 1, a legislative redistricting law based on Wisconsin's mid-decade state census.

Summary Senate summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 25 7 32 1 Start of 1st Session 13 20 33 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 4 29 33 0

Assembly summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Pop. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 56 0 44 100 0 Start of 1st Session 19 0 81 100 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 9 1 90 100 0

Sessions 1st Regular session: January 9, 1895April 20, 1895 February 1896 Special session:' February 18, 1896February 28, 1896

Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Emil Baensch (R) President pro tempore: Thompson Weeks (R)

Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: George B. Burrows (R)

Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Forty-Second Wisconsin Legislature:

Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Ahnapee Rep. 02 Brown De Pere Dem. 03 Kenosha Kenosha Rep. 04 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 05 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 06 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 07 Northern Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 08 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 09 Adams, Juneau, Marquette, GermaniaRep. 10 Pierce, Polk, EllsworthRep. 11 Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Sawyer, West SuperiorRep. 12 Marathon & Wood Wausau Dem. 13 Eastern Columbia Beaver Dam Dem. 14 Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, & Shawano Shawano Dem. 15 Calumet ChiltonDem. 16 Crawford, Richland, LancasterRep. 17 Green, , BrodheadRep. 18 RiponRep. 19 Winnebago OshkoshRep. 20 Sheboygan Sheboygan Dem. 21 Portage, Waushara, Stevens PointRep. 22 Outagamie Appleton Dem. 23 Jefferson Watertown Dem. 24 Walworth Whitewater Rep. 25 Clark Neillsville Rep. 26 Dane (Most) Madison Dem. 27 Sauk Prairie du Sac Rep. 28 Iowa, Lafayette, Mineral Point Rep. 29 Buffalo, Barron, Dunn, Menomonie Rep. 30 Chippewa, Oneida, Price, Dem. 31 Jackson, Monroe, Black River Falls Rep. 32 La Crosse La Crosse Rep. 33 Ozaukee, Washington, Dem.

Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Forty-Second Wisconsin Legislature:

SenateDistrict County Dist. Representative Party Residence 09 Adams Rep. Friendship 11 Ashland Rep. Butternut 29 Barron Rep. Barron 11 Bayfield, Burnett, Sawyer, Rep. Washburn 02 Brown 1 Dem. Green Bay 2 Rep. Morrison 29 Buffalo Rep. Nelson 15 Calumet Dem. Woodville 30 Chippewa 1 Rep. Chippewa Falls 2 Rep. Anson 25 Clark Rep. Loyal 27 Columbia 1 Rep. Portage 13 2 Rep. Randolph 16 Crawford Rep. Soldiers Grove 26 Dane 1 Rep. Madison 2 Rep. Vienna 17 3 Rep. Stoughton 26 4 Rep. Verona 33 Dodge 1 Dem. Lomira 13 2 Dem. Beaver Dam 3 Dem. Hustisford 01 Door Rep. Ephraim 11 Douglas Rep. Superior 29 Dunn Rep. Knapp 25 Eau Claire 1 Rep. Eau Claire 2 Rep. Augusta 18 Fond du Lac 1 Rep. Waupun 2 Dem. Fond du Lac 3 Dem. Forest 16 Grant 1 Rep. Platteville 28 2 Rep. Mount Ida 17 Green Rep. Monroe 09 Green Lake Rep. Princeton 28 Iowa Rep. Mineral Point 31 Jackson Rep. Alma 23 Jefferson 1 Dem. Watertown 2 Dem. Johnson Creek 09 Juneau Rep. New Lisbon 03 Kenosha Rep. Randall 01 Kewaunee Dem. Ahnapee 32 La Crosse 1 Rep. La Crosse 2 Rep. Farmington 28 Lafayette Rep. Shullsburg 14 Florence, Forest, Rep. Antigo 14 Lincoln Dem. Merrill 15 Manitowoc 1 Dem. Reedsville 2 Dem. Manitowoc 12 Marathon 1 Dem. Berlin 2 Rep. Wausau 01 Marinette Rep. Marinette 04 Milwaukee 1 Rep. Milwaukee 2 Dem. Milwaukee 3 Rep. Milwaukee 05 4 Rep. Milwaukee 07 5 Rep. Milwaukee 06 6 Rep. Milwaukee 7 Rep. Milwaukee 05 8 Rep. Milwaukee 9 Rep. Milwaukee 08 10 Rep. Milwaukee 06 11 Rep. Milwaukee 08 12 Dem. Milwaukee 13 Rep. Cudahy 07 14 Rep. Wauwatosa 31 Monroe Rep. Wilton 02 Oconto Rep. Mountain 30 Oneida, Price, Rep. Hazelhurst 22 Outagamie 1 Dem. Greenville 2 Rep. Seymour 33 Ozaukee Dem. Cedarburg 10 Pierce Rep. River Falls Polk Rep. Osceola 21 Portage Rep. Amherst 03 Racine 1 Rep. Racine 2 Rep. Rochester 16 Richland Rep. Buena Vista 17 Rock 1 Rep. Beloit 24 2 Rep. Clinton 3 Rep. Janesville 27 Sauk 1 Rep. Baraboo 2 Dem. Reedsburg 14 Shawano Rep. Bonduel 20 Sheboygan 1 Rep. Sheboygan 2 Rep. Herman 3 Rep. Rhine 10 St. Croix Rep. New Richmond 32 Trempealeau Rep. Galesville 31 Vernon Rep. Viroqua 24 Walworth 1 Rep. East Troy 2 Rep. Bloomfield 33 Washington Rep. Jackson 07 Waukesha 1 Rep. Big Bend 23 2 Rep. Dousman 22 Waupaca 1 Rep. New London 21 2 Rep. Crystal Lake Waushara Rep. Wautoma 19 Winnebago 1 Rep. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Menasha 3 Rep. Oshkosh 12 Wood Rep. Grand Rapids

Committees Senate committees Senate Committee on AgriculturePeirce, chair Senate Committee on Assessment and Collection of TaxesWoodworth, chair Senate Committee on BankingDavis, chair Senate Committee on Dairy and FoodMcGillivray, chair Senate Committee on EducationStout, chair Senate Committee on Enrolled BillsPhillips, chair Senate Committee on Engrossed BillsConger, chair Senate Committee on Federal RelationsAustin, chair Senate Committee on IncorporationsMills, chair Senate Committee on the JudiciarySpensley, chair Senate Committee on Legislative ExpendituresMcGillivray, chair Senate Committee on Manufacturing and CommerceThayer, chair Senate Committee on Military AffairsWeeks, chair Senate Committee on Privileges and ElectionsStebbins, chair Senate Committee on Public LandsTimme, chair Senate Committee on RailroadsWithee, chair Senate Committee on Roads and BridgesYoumans, chair Senate Committee on State AffairsPutnam, chair Senate Committee on Town and County OrganizationsFisher, chair

Assembly committees Assembly Committee on AgricultureThomas H. Grier, chair Assembly Committee on Assessment and Collection of TaxesN. B. Treat, chair Assembly Committee on Bills on their Third ReadingCharles F. Hanke, chair Assembly Committee on CitiesFrank Anson, chair Assembly Committee on Dairy and FoodGeorge H. Blake, chair Assembly Committee on EducationD. O. Mahoney, chair Assembly Committee on Engrossed BillsJ. O. Davidson, chair Assembly Committee on Enrolled BillsA. H. De Groff, chair Assembly Committee on Federal RelationsG. J. Jeske, chair Assembly Committee on Forestry and HorticultureCharles Hirschinger, chair Assembly Committee on IncorporationsO. J. Williams, chair Assembly Committee on Insurance, Banks, and BankingWilliam A. Jones, chair Assembly Committee on the JudiciaryH. P. Burdick, chair Assembly Committee on Labor and ManufacturesE. R. Stillman, chair Assembly Committee on Legislative ExpendituresA. L. Utt, chair Assembly Committee on Lumber and MiningA. R. Hall, chair Assembly Committee on Medical SocietiesC. C. Harris, chair Assembly Committee on MilitiaMarshall Cousins, chair Assembly Committee on Privileges and ElectionsH. C. Sloan, chair Assembly Committee on Public ImprovementsJ. B. Miller, chair Assembly Committee on Public LandsC. A. Stanley, chair Assembly Committee on RailroadsE. D. Hoyt, chair Assembly Committee on Roads and BridgesL. B. Cox, chair Assembly Committee on State AffairsJ. G. Lamberson, chair Assembly Committee on Town and County OrganizationWilliam O'Neil, chair Assembly Committee on Ways and MeansJames Freeman, chair

Joint committees Joint Committee on Charitable and Penal InstitutionsOfficer (Sen.) & Fenner Kimball (Asm.), co-chairs Joint Committee on ClaimsBaxter(Sen.) & Frank L. Fraser (Asm.), co-chairs Joint Committee on Fish and GameTimme (Sen.) & Henry L. Besse (Asm.), co-chairs Joint Committee on PrintingPeirce (Sen.) & James T. Ellarson (Asm.), co-chairs

Employees Senate employees Chief Clerk: Walter Houser Assistant Chief Clerk: Fred W. Coon Journal Clerk: William M. Fogo Bookkeeper: E. S. Hotchkiss Assistant Bookkepper: I. S. Griffin Engrossing Clerk: Francis Stirn Assistant Engrossing Clerk: Helena Heyd Enrolling Clerk: L. J. Burlingame Assistant Enrolling Clerk: George L. Kingsley Jr. Proofreader: H. F. Poland Index Clerk: F. L. Perrin Assistant Index Clerk: Charles Jewell Copy Holder: E. A. Charlton Clerk for the Judiciary Committee: C. S. Spensley Clerk for the Committee on Incorporations: M. P. Schmitt Clerk for the Committee on Claims: James M. Hayden Clerk for the Committee on Town and County Organization: Fisher Clerk for the Committee on Railroads: W. E. Miner Clerk for the Committee on State Affairs: Fred Gilman Clerk for the Committee on Engrossed Bills: S. A. Pelton Clerk for the Committee on Enrolled Bills: Hattie M. Phillips Document Clerk: Arton T. Sutton Comparing Clerks: Caroline Lawson S. N. Hartwell C. L. Fellows Edwin French General Clerks: C. P. Northrup LeRoy Thomas Horace G. Cole A. W. James Ruling Clerk: Eddie Sherman Printing Page: B. Staunchfield Sergeant-at-Arms: Charles A. Pettibone