The Forty-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session. During this legislative term but after the end of the legislative session, in February 1904, the Wisconsin State Capitol suffered a severe fire that destroyed two wings and damaged the rotunda.
This was the first legislative session after the redistricting of the Senate and Assembly according to acts of the previous session.
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 4, 1902. 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 6, 1900.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Robert M. La Follette, of Dane County, serving his second two-year term, having won re-election in the 1902 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Major events Unknown date: Harley-Davidson motorcycle company was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. January 28, 1903: John Coit Spooner was re-elected United States Senator by the Wisconsin Legislature in joint session. February 23, 1903: Cuba leased Guantánamo Bay to the United States in perpetuity. March 20, 1903: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Charles V. Bardeen died of cancer in Madison, Wisconsin. April 7, 1903: Wisconsin spring general election: Robert G. Siebecker was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Voters approved an amendment to the Wisconsin constitution to add two seats to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. April 9, 1903: Judge Robert G. Siebecker was appointed to begin his term early on the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Governor June 16, 1903: The Ford Motor Company was founded in Detroit, Michigan. July 20, 1903: Pope Leo XIII died at the Apostolic Palace in Rome. August 9, 1903: Coronation of Cardinal Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto as Pope Pius X. September 11, 1903: The first stock-car race was held at the Milwaukee Mile in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. October 1, 1903: The first game of the modern World Series of baseball was held in Boston, Massachusetts. November 3, 1903: With the support of the United States, Panama declared its independence from Colombia. November 18, 1903: The Hay–Bunau-Varilla Treaty was signed by the United States and Panama, giving the United States exclusive rights to the Panama Canal Zone. December 17, 1903: The Wright brothers Wright Flyer made the first powered, controlled flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. December 30, 1903: The Iroquois Theatre fire in Chicago, Illinois, killed 602. January 1, 1904: Frederick Pabst, founder of the Pabst Brewing Company, died in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. February 8, 1904: The Empire of Japan launched a surprise attack on Russian Dalian, igniting the Russo-Japanese War. February 26, 1904: A gas jet ignited the newly varnished ceiling of the Wisconsin State Capitol, starting a fire that would burn down most of the building. April 8, 1904: The Entente Cordiale was signed by the United Kingdom and France. May 4, 1904: United States Army engineers began work on the Panama Canal. May 21, 1904: The International Federation of Association Football, FIFA, was founded. July 1, 1904: Start of the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri. These were the third modern Olympics and the first held in the United States. July 30, 1904: Wisconsin Governor Robert La Follette removed the state treasurer, John J. Kempf, from office for his failure to give the required bond for the office. November 8, 1904: 1904 United States general election: Theodore Roosevelt re-elected as President of the United States. Robert M. La Follette re-elected to a third term as Governor of Wisconsin. Wisconsin voters approved a referendum to utilize primary elections for party nominations for state offices. December 6, 1904: President Theodore Roosevelt declared his Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine, stating that the United States will intervene in the Western Hemisphere where Latin American governments prove incapable or unstable. December 31, 1904: The first New Year's Eve celebration was held at Times Square, New York City.
Major legislation March 24, 1903: An Act to provide for making nominations and for filing nomination papers for the office of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court for the term commencing on the first Monday of January 1904, and for placing the names of the nominees for such office on the official ballot, 1903 Act 27. Set up a special period for new nominations for the Wisconsin Supreme Court election set to be held in April 1903, due to the death of the incumbent justice Charles V. Bardeen, who had been set to run for re-election. March 27, 1903: An Act relating to the duties, qualifications and salary of the state superintendent, 1903 Act 37. Using a new amendment to the state constitution to define the office of the state superintendent of public instruction. April 3, 1903: An Act to provide for state insurance on public buildings, and making an appropriation therefor, 1903 Act 68. Terminated existing state fire insurance—10 months before the Capitol suffered a severe fire. May 13, 1903: An Act for the creation of banks and for the regulation and supervision of the banking business, 1903 Act 234. Utilized the new amendment to the state constitution to regulate banking and establish the Wisconsin Department of Banking. May 20, 1903: An Act to provide for the protection of employees and sanitation in certain buildings, 1903 Act 323. May 23, 1903: An Act to provide for party nominations by direct vote, 1903 Act 451. Set methodology for party nominations to be determined via primary elections rather than nominating conventions, and proposed a referendum to have the plan ratified by voters. Joint Resolution agreeing to the proposed amendment to the constitution, 1903 Joint Resolution 7. This was the second required legislative passage of the constitutional amendment to expand the Wisconsin Supreme Court to 7 seats. The amendment was then ratified by voters in the 1903 Spring election. Joint Resolution, 1903 Joint Resolution 9. Calling for a federal constitutional convention to draft an amendment to the United States Constitution for the popular election of United States senators. Joint Resolution providing for an amendment to section 1, article VIII, of the Constitution, relating to taxation, 1903 Joint Resolution 11. Proposed an amendment to the Wisconsin constitution to allow a graduated income tax.
Summary Senate summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. S.D. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 2 0 29 31 2 Start of 1st Session 3 0 30 33 0 From Aug. 24, 1903Republican Christian Sarau (District 19) died August 24, 1903. 29 32 1 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 4 1 28 33 0
Assembly summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. S.D. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 19 0 81 100 0 Start of 1st Session 25 0 74 99 1 From Feb. 18, 1903 75 100 0 From Aug. 26, 1903Republican David G. Williams (Columbia 2nd District) died August 26, 1903. 74 99 1 From Oct. 29, 1903Democrat Thomas F. Timlin (Milwaukee 6th District) died October 29, 1903. 24 98 2 From Mar. 30, 1904Republican Frank A. Cady (Wood District) died March 30, 1904. 73 97 3 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 11 4 85 100 0
Sessions 1st Regular session: January 14, 1903May 23, 1903
Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: James O. Davidson (R) President pro tempore: James J. McGillivray (R–Black River Falls)
Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Irvine Lenroot (R–Superior)
Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Forty-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature:
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Wausaukee Rep. 02 Brown Green Bay Rep. 03 Kenosha Racine 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, Grand RapidsRep. 10 Pierce New RichmondRep. 11 Burnett, Douglas, SuperiorRep. 12 Ashland, Bayfield, Price, Sawyer, Taylor, WashburnRep. 13 Dodge Fox Lake Dem. 14 Outagamie AppletonRep. 15 Calumet Manitowoc Dem. 16 Crawford PlattevilleRep. 17 Green, Iowa, DarlingtonRep. 18 PrincetonRep. 19 Winnebago OshkoshRep. --Vacant from Aug. 23, 1903-- 20 Ozaukee RhineRep. 21 Portage New LondonRep. 22 Rock JanesvilleRep. 23 Jefferson WhitewaterRep. 24 Chippewa, , Eau Claire Rep. 25 Clark Wausau Rep. 26 Dane Madison Rep. 27 Columbia Leeds Rep. 28 Richland, Viroqua Rep. 29 Barron, Buffalo, Dunn, Menomonie Rep. 30 Florence, Forest, Iron, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, Rep. 31 Jackson, Juneau, Black River Falls Rep. 32 La Crosse Arcadia Rep. 33 Washington Dem.
Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Forty-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature:
SenateDistrict County Dist. Representative Party Residence 09 Adams Rep. Douglas 12 Ashland Rep. Ashland 29 Barron Rep. Cumberland 12 Bayfield, Sawyer, Rep. Iron River 02 Brown 1 Rep. 2 Dem. De Pere 29 Buffalo Rep. Mondovi 11 Burnett Rep. 15 Calumet Dem. 24 Chippewa 1 Rep. 2 Rep. Eagle Point 25 Clark Rep. Beaver 27 Columbia 1 Rep. 2 Rep. Cambria 16 Crawford Rep. Soldiers Grove 26 Dane 1 Rep. Madison 2 Rep. Deerfield 3 Rep. Mount Horeb 13 Dodge 1 Dem. Lebanon 2 Dem. Portland 01 Door Rep. Jacksonport 11 Douglas 1 Rep. Superior 2 Rep. Superior 29 Dunn Rep. Colfax 24 Eau Claire 1 Rep. Eau Claire 2 Rep. Augusta 30 Florence, Forest, Rep. 18 Fond du Lac 1 Dem. Friendship 2 Rep. Campbellsport 16 Grant 1 Rep. Cuba City 2 Rep. Montford 17 Green Rep. Brodhead 18 Green Lake Rep. Markesan 17 Iowa Rep. Dodgeville 30 Iron, Oneida, Rep. Hurley 31 Jackson Rep. 23 Jefferson 1 Dem. Sullivan 2 Dem. Oakland 31 Juneau Rep. Necedah 03 Kenosha Rep. Wheatland 01 Kewaunee Dem. Kewaunee 32 La Crosse 1 Rep. La Crosse 2 Rep. Holland 17 Lafayette Rep. Elk Grove 30 Lincoln Rep. Tomahawk 15 Manitowoc 1 Rep. Manitowoc 2 Dem. Mishicot 25 Marathon 1 Dem. Mosinee 2 Rep. Wausau 01 Marinette 1 Rep. Marinette 2 Rep. Peshtigo 04 Milwaukee 1 Dem. Milwaukee 05 2 Rep. Milwaukee 07 3 Rep. Milwaukee 05 4 Rep. Milwaukee 08 5 Dem. Milwaukee 05 6 Dem. Milwaukee 07 7 Rep. Wauwatosa 08 8 Rep. Milwaukee 06 9 Dem. Milwaukee 10 Rep. Milwaukee 08 11 Dem. Milwaukee 06 12 Rep. Milwaukee 04 13 Dem. Milwaukee 07 14 Dem. Milwaukee 04 15 Rep. Milwaukee 06 16 Rep. Milwaukee 31 Monroe Rep. Tomah 02 Oconto Rep. Suring 14 Outagamie 1 Rep. Appleton 2 Rep. Hortonville 20 Ozaukee Dem. 10 Pierce Rep. River Falls 21 Portage Rep. Stevens Point 12 Price, Rep. Phillips 03 Racine 1 Rep. Racine 2 --Vacant until Feb. 18, 1903-- Dem. Burlington 28 Richland Dem. Richland Center 22 Rock 1 Rep. Porter 2 Rep. Janesville 3 Rep. Beloit 27 Sauk 1 Rep. Baraboo 2 Dem. Spring Green 14 Shawano Rep. Shawano 20 Sheboygan 1 Dem. Sheboygan 2 Rep. Scott 10 St. Croix Rep. Hudson 32 Trempealeau Rep. Whitehall 28 Vernon Rep. Westby 23 Walworth Rep. Delavan 33 Washington Dem. West Bend Waukesha 1 Rep. Mukwonago 2 Rep. Merton 21 Waupaca 1 Rep. Scandinavia 2 Rep. 09 Waushara Rep. Aurora 19 Winnebago 1 Rep. Oshkosh 2 Dem. Neenah 3 Rep. 09 Wood Rep. Marshfield
Committees Senate committees Senate Committee on AgricultureG. Wylie, chair Senate Committee on Assessment and Collection of TaxesJ. M. Whitehead, chair Senate Committee on Banks and InsuranceJ. E. Roehr, chair Senate Committee on Bills on Third ReadingR. Reukema, chair Senate Committee on CorporationsJ. H. Green, chair Senate Committee on EducationJ. H. Stout, chair Senate Committee on Enrolled BillsC. Sarau, chair Senate Committee on Engrossed BillsG. B. Hudnall, chair Senate Committee on Federal RelationsH. C. Martin, chair Senate Committee on the JudiciaryA. L. Kreutzer, chair