The Forty-Fifth 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 6, 1900. 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 8, 1898.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Robert M. La Follette, of Dane County, serving a two-year term, having won election in the 1900 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Major events January 7, 1901: Inauguration of Robert M. La Follette as the 20th Governor of Wisconsin. He was the first governor of Wisconsin to have been born in Wisconsin. January 22, 1901: Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom died and was succeeded by her son, Edward VII. March 4, 1901: Second inauguration of U.S. President William McKinley. September 6, 1901: President William McKinley was shot by anarchist Leon Czolgosz in Buffalo, New York. He would die 8 days later. September 14, 1901: Vice President Theodore Roosevelt was sworn in as the 26th President of the United States, following the death of President William McKinley. October 1, 1901: The Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library was opened in the State Capitol under chief Charles McCarthy. The library was the first of its kind and was a model for the Congressional Research Service. April 2, 1902: The Electric Theatre, the first movie theater in the United States, opened in Los Angeles, California. May 11, 1902: Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Jesse Stone died of stomach cancer at Watertown, Wisconsin. June 29, 1902: The federal Spooner Act, named for Wisconsin's U.S. senator John Coit Spooner, was signed by President Theodore Roosevelt, to purchase land that would become the Panama Canal Zone. July 1, 1902: The Philippine Organic Act was signed by President Theodore Roosevelt, bringing an end to the Philippine–American War. November 4, 1902: Wisconsin general election: Robert M. La Follette re-elected as Governor of Wisconsin. Voters approved an amendment to the Wisconsin constitution to authorize a general banking law and remove previous referendum requirements for banking laws. Voters approved an amendment to the Wisconsin constitution to convert the Superintendent of Public Instruction to a nonpartisan, 4-year office, with pay set by legislation. Voters approved an amendment to the Wisconsin constitution to prohibit individuals, companies, political committees, and other entities from providing any free pass, free transportation, or free communication to any officer of state, local, or county government in Wisconsin.
Major legislation April 12, 1901: An Act to apportion and district anew the state of Wisconsin into assembly districts, 1901 Act 164. May 6, 1901: An Act to apportion and district anew the state of Wisconsin into senate districts, 1901 Act 309. May 13, 1901: An Act to apportion and district anew the state of Wisconsin into congressional districts, 1901 Act 398. Joint Resolution agreeing to a proposed amendment to article XI of the constitution of the state of Wisconsin, giving the legislature power to pass a general banking law, 1901 Joint Resolution 2. This was the second required legislative approval of this amendment, which was then ratified by voters in November 1902. Joint Resolution agreeing to constitutional amendment, 1901 Joint Resolution 3. Amendment (1) converting the Superintendent of Public Instruction of Wisconsin from a political to nonpartisan office, (2) moving the elections for superintendent from Fall to Spring, (3) changing the term from two years to four years, (4) moving inauguration from the first Monday in the January following the election to the first Monday in the July following the election, and (5) enabling the Legislature to set the pay of the superintendent through law. This was the second required legislative approval of this amendment, which was then ratified by voters in November 1902. Joint Resolution for the submission of an amendment to section 1 of article VII of the constitution relating to the justices of the supreme court, 1901 Joint Resolution 8. Proposed adding two more justices to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and proposing a process to determine the chief justice when two justices held equal seniority. Joint Resolution agreeing to a proposed amendment to article XIII of the constitution of the state of Wisconsin, to prohibit the pass system, 1901 Joint Resolution 9. This was the second required legislative approval of this amendment, which was then ratified by voters in November 1902. Joint Resolution providing for an amendment of section 23, article IV of the constitution and for separate county government in certain counties, 1901 Joint Resolution 12. Suggested an amendment to allow the Legislature to establish a separate system of county government that could be applied to creating new counties around cities with populations greater than 100,000.
Summary Senate summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 2 31 33 0 Start of 1st Session 2 31 33 0 From April 29, 1901 30 32 1 From December 12, 1901 29 31 2 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 3 30 33 0
Assembly summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 19 81 100 0 Start of 1st Session 19 81 100 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 25 74 99 1
Sessions 1st Regular session: January 9, 1901May 15, 1901
Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Jesse Stone (R) (until May 11, 1902) President pro tempore: James J. McGillivray (R–Black River Falls)
Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: George H. Ray (R–La Crosse)
Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Forty-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Algoma Rep. 02 Brown Green Bay Rep. 03 Kenosha Randall Rep. 04 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 05 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 06 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 07 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 08 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 09 Adams, Marquette, Waushara, RichfieldRep. 10 Pierce New RichmondRep. 11 Burnett, Douglas, West SuperiorRep. 12 Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Iron, Sawyer, WashburnRep. 13 Dodge Beaver Dam Dem. 14 Outagamie AppletonRep. 15 Calumet ManitowocRep. 16 Grant PlattevilleRep. 17 Green, Lafayette, DarlingtonRep. 18 PrincetonRep. 19 Winnebago OshkoshDem. 20 Ozaukee RhineRep. 21 Portage New LondonRep. 22 JanesvilleRep. 23 Walworth ElkhornRep. 24 Buffalo, , Eau Claire Rep. 25 Clark Wausau Rep. 26 Dane Madison Rep. 27 Columbia Lodi Rep. 28 Crawford, Richland, Viroqua Rep. 29 Chippewa Menomonie Rep. 30 Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, Price, Taylor, Rep. 31 Jackson, Juneau, Black River Falls Rep. 32 La Crosse Arcadia Rep. 33 Washington Rep.
Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Forty-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:
SenateDistrict County Dist. Representative Party Residence 09 Adams Rep. Easton 12 Ashland Rep. Ashland Barron Rep. Rice Lake Bayfield, Sawyer, Rep. Hayward 02 Brown 1 Rep. Suamico 2 Dem. Morrison 24 Buffalo Rep. Mondovi 11 Burnett Rep. 15 Calumet Dem. Brillion 29 Chippewa 1 Rep. Bloomer 2 Rep. Chippewa Falls 25 Clark Rep. Neillsville 27 Columbia 1 Rep. Arlington 2 Rep. Wyocena 28 Crawford Rep. Ferryville 26 Dane 1 Rep. Madison 2 Rep. Stoughton 3 Dem. Black Earth 13 Dodge 1 Dem. Lebanon 2 Dem. Fox Lake 01 Door Rep. Sturgeon Bay 11 Douglas 1 Rep. Superior 2 Rep. Superior 29 Dunn Rep. Knapp 24 Eau Claire 1 Rep. Eau Claire 2 Rep. Otter Creek 30 Florence, Forest, Rep. Florence 18 Fond du Lac 1 Dem. Fond du Lac 2 Rep. Ripon 16 Grant 1 Rep. Fennimore 2 Rep. Cuba City 17 Green Rep. Monroe 18 Green Lake Rep. Berlin 16 Iowa Rep. Hollandale 31 Jackson Rep. Hixton 23 Jefferson 1 Dem. Sullivan 22 2 Dem. Oakland 31 Juneau Rep. New Lisbon 03 Kenosha Rep. Wheatland 01 Kewaunee Dem. Kewaunee 32 La Crosse 1 Rep. La Crosse 2 Rep. Farmington 17 Lafayette Rep. Darlington 30 Lincoln Rep. Tomahawk 15 Manitowoc 1 Rep. Manitowoc 2 Dem. Two Rivers 25 Marathon 1 Dem. Unity 2 Rep. Wausau 01 Marinette Rep. Peshtigo 05 Milwaukee 1 Rep. Milwaukee 2 Dem. Milwaukee 07 3 Rep. South Milwaukee 05 4 Rep. Milwaukee 08 5 Dem. Milwaukee 04 6 Dem. Milwaukee 07 7 Rep. Wauwatosa 08 8 Rep. Milwaukee 06 9 Dem. Milwaukee 10 Rep. Milwaukee 08 11 Rep. Milwaukee 06 12 Rep. Milwaukee 04 13 Rep. Milwaukee 07 14 Dem. Milwaukee 04 15 Rep. Granville 31 Monroe Rep. Sparta 02 Oconto Rep. Suring 30 Oneida, Price, Rep. Phillips 14 Outagamie 1 Rep. Appleton 2 Rep. Hortonville 20 Ozaukee Dem. Cedarburg 10 Pierce Rep. Spring Valley 21 Portage 1 Dem. Stevens Point 2 Rep. Almond 03 Racine 1 Rep. Racine 2 Rep. Rochester 28 Richland Rep. Sylvan 22 Rock 1 Rep. Janesville 2 Rep. Evansville 17 3 Rep. Beloit 27 Sauk 1 Rep. Baraboo 2 Dem. Spring Green 14 Shawano Rep. Shawano 20 Sheboygan 1 Rep. Sheboygan 2 Rep. Sheboygan Falls 3 Rep. Plymouth 10 St. Croix Rep. Baldwin 32 Trempealeau Rep. Galesville 28 Vernon Rep. Westby 23 Walworth 1 Rep. La Grange 2 Rep. Delavan 33 Washington Rep. Germantown Waukesha 1 Rep. Mukwonago 2 Rep. Merton 21 Waupaca 1 Rep. Fremont 2 Rep. New London 09 Waushara Rep. Aurora 19 Winnebago 1 Rep. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Neenah 3 Rep. Oshkosh 09 Wood Rep. Marshfield
Committees Senate committees Senate Committee on AgricultureReynolds, chair Senate Committee on Assessment and Collection of TaxesWhitehead, chair Senate Committee on Banks and InsuranceRoehr, chair Senate Committee on Bills on Third ReadingGaveney, chair Senate Committee on CorporationsDevos, chair Senate Committee on EducationStout, chair Senate Committee on Enrolled BillsFearne, chair Senate Committee on Engrossed BillsMiller, chair Senate Committee on Federal RelationsMartin, chair Senate Committee on the JudiciaryKreutzer, chair Senate Committee on Legislative ExpensesWilly, chair Senate Committee on Manufactures and LaborAnson, chair Senate Committee on Military AffairsKnudsen, chair Senate Committee on Privileges and ElectionsHatton, chair Senate Committee on Public HealthEaton, chair Senate Committee on Public LandsHagemeister, chair Senate Committee on RailroadsHarris, chair Senate Committee on Roads and BridgesO'Neil, chair Senate Committee on State AffairsJones, chair Senate Committee on Town and County OrganizationsRiordans, chair
Assembly committees Assembly Committee on AgricultureR. Holland, chair Assembly Committee on Assessment and Collection of TaxesA. R. Hall, chair Assembly Committee on Bills on Third ReadingG. Ela, chair Assembly Committee on CitiesF. B. Keene, chair Assembly Committee on CorporationsL. M. Sturdevant, chair Assembly Committee on Dairy and FoodS. D. Slade, chair Assembly Committee on EducationJ. Johnston, chair Assembly Committee on Enrolled BillsA. Jensen, chair Assembly Committee on Engrossed BillsJ. M. Barlow, chair Assembly Committee on Federal RelationsC. Sarau, chair Assembly Committee on Finance, Banks and InsuranceE. A. Williams, chair Assembly Committee on the JudiciaryP. A. Orton, chair Assembly Committee on Legislative ExpendituresM. O. Galaway, chair Assembly Committee on Lumber and MiningA. E. Smith, chair Assembly Committee on ManufacturesR. F. Thiessenhusen, chair Assembly Committee on Military AffairsA. C. Dodge, chair Assembly Committee on Privileges and ElectionsE. H. Steiger, chair Assembly Committee on Public Health and SanitationJ. Willott, chair Assembly Committee on Public ImprovementsE. F. Clark, chair Assembly Committee on Public LandsD. Evans, chair Assembly Committee on RailroadsJ. W. Thomas, chair Assembly Committee on Roads and BridgesF. J. Frost, chair