The Fifty-Second Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session, and re-convened in a special session on October 10 and October 11, 1916.

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 3, 1914. 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 5, 1912.

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Emanuel L. Philipp, of Milwaukee County, serving a two-year term, having won election in the 1914 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events May 7, 1915: The ocean liner RMS Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U-boat and sunk off the coast of Ireland. January 24, 1916: The U.S. Supreme Court decided the case Brushaber v. Union Pacific Railroad Co., affirming the constitutionality of the federal income tax. March 8, 1916: Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa led a force across the border into the U.S. state of New Mexico, killing twelve U.S. soldiers. March 15, 1916: In response to the New Mexico raid, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson ordered 12,000 U.S. military personnel to cross into Mexico to hunt down Pancho Villa. April 4, 1916: Judge Franz C. Eschweiler was elected justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court to succeeded William H. Timlin. May 4, 1916: The German Empire issued the Sussex pledge in an attempt to appease the United States over the issue of unrestricted submarine warfare. May 16, 1916: Following a coup in the Dominican Republic, United States marines landed in the country and began an eight-year occupation. May 22, 1916: The U.S. Supreme Court decided the case Wisconsin v. Phila. & Reading Coal Co., finding that Wisconsin's corporate regulations placed an unconstitutional burden on corporations operating in Wisconsin but incorporated in other states. June 13, 1916: U.S. President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Defense Act of 1916, expanding the National Guard and creating an Officers Reserve Corps, Enlisted Reserve Corps, and the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, and expanding the powers of the President to federalize the National Guard. July 30, 1916: German saboteurs caused the Black Tom explosion in Jersey City, New Jersey, destroying an American ammunition depot and killing seven people. August 21, 1916: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice William H. Timlin died in office. August 30, 1916: Governor Emanuel L. Philipp appointed Franz C. Eschweiler to begin his term early on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, following the death of justice William H. Timlin. November 7, 1916: 1916 United States general election: Woodrow Wilson re-elected President of the United States. Emanuel L. Philipp re-elected Governor of Wisconsin. Robert M. La Follette re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin.

Major legislation July 15, 1915: An Act ... abolishing the offices of state fish and game warden, state board of forestry, state conservation commission, commissioners of fisheries and the state park board, and providing for the appointment of a state conservation commission of Wisconsin, and making an appropriation, 1915 Act 406. Created the Wisconsin Conservation Commission. July 19, 1915: An Act ... abolishing the state board of agriculture, the state board of immigration, the board of veterinary examiners, the state live stock sanitary board, the state inspector of apiaries, the state orchard and nursery inspector and the office of state veterinarian as now established ... creating a department of agriculture, a state live stock sanitary board, the office of state entomologist, a state fair advisory board, and prescribing their powers and duties, and making an appropriation, 1915 Act 413. Created the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture and transformed several other farm examination entities.

Party summary Senate summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. S.D. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 7 1 24 32 1 Start of 1st Session 9 1 23 33 0 From Aug. 26, 1915Republican Robert Glenn (16th District) died August 26, 1915. 22 32 1 From Nov. 9, 1915Republican George E. Scott (29th District) died November 9, 1915. 21 31 2 From Sep. 25, 1916Republican Edward T. Fairchild (5th District) resigned September 25, 1916, due to his appointment as a Wisconsin circuit court judge. 20 30 3 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 6 3 24 33 0

Assembly summary

Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. S.D. Ind. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 35 6 1 58 100 0 Start of 1st Session 29 8 0 63 100 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 14 7 0 79 100 0

Sessions 1st Regular session: January 13, 1915August 24, 1915 October 1916 special session: October 10, 1916October 11, 1916

Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Edward Dithmar (R) President pro tempore: Edward T. Fairchild (R–Milwaukee)

Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Lawrence C. Whittet (R–Edgerton)

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

Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Algoma Rep. 02 Brown Green Bay Rep. 03 Kenosha Racine Rep. 04 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 05 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. --Vacant from Sep. 25, 1916-- 06 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 07 Milwaukee Milwaukee Soc.D. 08 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 09 Milwaukee Milwaukee Dem. 10 Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, River FallsRep. 11 Burnett, Douglas, SuperiorRep. 12 Ashland, Bayfield, Price, Rusk, AshlandRep. 13 Dodge Mayville Dem. 14 Outagamie DaleRep. 15 Calumet Chilton Dem. 16 Crawford, Grant, WyalusingRep. --Vacant from Aug. 26, 1915-- 17 Green, Iowa, HighlandRep. 18 RiponDem. 19 Winnebago OshkoshRep. 20 Ozaukee BelgiumDem. 21 Adams, Juneau, Marquette, Mauston Rep. 22 Rock Beloit Rep. 23 Portage Dayton Rep. 24 Clark Neillsville Rep. 25 Langlade Wausau Dem. 26 Dane Stoughton Rep. 27 Columbia Caledonia Dem. 28 Chippewa, Chippewa Falls Rep. 29 Barron, Dunn, Prairie Farm Rep. —Vacant from Nov. 9, 1915-- 30 Florence, Forest, Iron, Lincoln, Oneida, Taylor, Rhinelander Rep. 31 Jackson, Monroe, Viroqua Rep. 32 La Crosse La Crosse Rep. 33 Jefferson Dem.

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

SenateDist. County Dist. Representative Party Residence 21 Adams Rep. Endeavor 12 Ashland Rep. Butternut 29 Barron Rep. Barron 12 Bayfield Rep. 02 Brown 1 Dem. Green Bay 2 Dem. De Pere 10 Buffalo Rep. Durand 11 Burnett Rep. Shell Lake 15 Calumet Dem. Stockbridge 28 Chippewa Rep. Bloomer 24 Clark Rep. Neillsville 27 Columbia Rep. Arlington 16 Crawford Dem. Wauzeka 26 Dane 1 Dem. Madison 2 Rep. Deerfield 3 Dem. Verona 13 Dodge 1 Dem. Herman 2 Dem. Westford 01 Door Rep. Sturgeon Bay 11 Douglas 1 Rep. 2 Rep. Superior 29 Dunn Rep. Menomonie 28 Eau Claire Rep. Eau Claire 30 Florence, Forest, Rep. Rhinelander 18 Fond du Lac 1 Dem. Marshfield 2 Rep. Campbellsport 16 Grant 1 Rep. Livingston 2 Rep. Fennimore 17 Green Rep. New Glarus 18 Green Lake Rep. Berlin 17 Iowa Rep. Ridgeway 30 Iron Rep. Eagle River 31 Jackson Rep. 33 Jefferson 1 Rep. Johnson Creek 2 Dem. Lake Mills 21 Juneau Rep. Elroy 03 Kenosha Rep. 01 Kewaunee Dem. Franklin 32 La Crosse 1 Rep. La Crosse 2 Rep. Greenfield 17 Lafayette Rep. Wiota 25 Langlade Dem. Polar 30 Lincoln Rep. Merrill 15 Manitowoc 1 Dem. Manitowoc 2 Dem. Cato 25 Marathon 1 Dem. Day 2 Dem. Wausau 01 Marinette Rep. 09 Milwaukee 1 Dem. Milwaukee 2 Rep. Milwaukee 3 Dem. Milwaukee 05 4 Soc.D. Milwaukee 08 5 Dem. Milwaukee 05 6 Dem. Milwaukee 7 Soc.D. Milwaukee 08 8 Dem. Milwaukee 06 9 Soc.D. Milwaukee 04 10 Soc.D. Milwaukee 08 11 Soc.D. Milwaukee 12 Soc.D. Milwaukee 04 13 Rep. Milwaukee 07 14 Soc.D. Milwaukee 05 15 Rep. Milwaukee 16 Rep. Wauwatosa 07 17 Soc.D. Milwaukee 04 18 Rep. Milwaukee 07 19 Rep. West Allis 31 Monroe Rep. Kendall 02 Oconto Rep. 14 Outagamie 1 Rep. Grand Chute 2 Rep. Seymour 20 Ozaukee Dem. Cedarburg 10 Pierce Rep. 29 Polk Rep. Apple River 23 Portage Dem. Stevens Point 12 Price Rep. Ogema 03 Racine 1 Rep. Racine 2 Dem. Mount Pleasant 28 Richland Rep. Westford 22 Rock 1 Rep. Edgerton 2 Rep. Beloit 12 Rusk Rep. 27 Sauk Rep. North Freedom 14 Shawano Rep. Navarino 20 Sheboygan 1 Dem. Sheboygan 2 Rep. 10 St. Croix Dem. 30 Taylor Dem. Medford 32 Trempealeau Rep. Whitehall 31 Vernon Rep. Westby 23 Walworth Rep. Elkhorn 13 Washington Rep. Richfield 33 Waukesha 1 Dem. Waukesha 2 Rep. Sussex 23 Waupaca Rep. Clintonville 21 Waushara Rep. Wautoma 19 Winnebago 1 Dem. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Neenah 3 Rep. Oshkosh 24 Wood Rep. Grand Rapids

Committees Senate committees Senate Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresR. W. Monk, chair Senate Standing Committee on CorporationsO. Bosshard, chair Senate Standing Committee on Education and Public WelfareM. W. Perry, chair Senate Standing Committee on the JudiciaryT. Burke, chair Senate Standing Committee on Legislative ProcedureE. Fairchild, chair Senate Standing Committee on State AffairsW. T. Stevens, chair Senate Special Committee on CommitteesT. Burke, chair Senate Special Committee on ConservationE. Ackley, chair Senate Special Committee on HighwaysW. J. Bichler, chair

Assembly committees Assembly Standing Committee on AgricultureH. J. Grell, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and ManufacturesC. K. Ellingson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresF. Hess, chair Assembly Standing Committee on EducationS. A. Schindler, chair Assembly Standing Committee on ElectionsC. Paulus, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed BillsE. Heathcote, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled BillsD. L. Dobie, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and FeesJ. M. Engebretson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Fish and GameB. N. Moran, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and BankingH. M. Laursen, chair Assembly Standing Committee on the JudiciaryG. P. Hambrecht, chair Assembly Standing Committee on LaborA. J. Winegar, chair Assembly Standing Committee on MunicipalitiesR. J. Nye, chair Assembly Standing Committee on PrintingC. Pieper, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Public WelfareW. A. Kay, chair Assembly Standing Committee on RevisionF. S. Hanson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on RulesL. C. Whittet, chair Assembly Standing Committee on State AffairsAx. Johnson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on TaxationG. Harrington, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Third ReadingH. S. Berninger, chair Assembly Standing Committee on TransportationE. A. Everett, chair Assembly Special Committee on Rules L. C. Whittet, chair

Joint committees Joint Standing Committee on FinanceG. E. Scott (Sen.) & F. W. Kubasta (Asm.), co-chairs Joint Special Committee on Investigations of State Boards and CommissionsE. Fairchild (Sen.), chair

Employees Senate employees Chief Clerk: Oliver G. Munson Assistant Chief Clerk: C. E. Mullen Journal Clerk: W. N. Mackin Assistant Journal Clerk: James B. Ackley Bookkeeper: Carle E. Dietze Assistant Bookkeeper: Henry C. Priester Engrossing Clerk: A. J. Nelson Index Clerk: L. H. Cannon Revision Clerk: D. J. Hotchkiss Clerk of the Committee on Corporations: A. C. Miller Clerk of the Committee on Education and Public Welfare: R. H. Hillyer Clerk of the Committee on Finance: Arthur F. Steffen Clerk of the Committee on Highways: L. G. Vogt Clerk of the Committee on the Judiciary: Paul C. Bode Clerk of the Committee on State Affairs: A. A. Heinrich Stenographic Reporter: Roy E. Gordon Stenographers: E. L. Stapleton Albert R. Millett W. J. Van Den Berg Mailing Clerk: E. G. Cooper Sergeant-at-Arms: F. E. Andrews Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Edward F. McCarthy Document Clerk: Emil Hartman Day Police: Edward J. Samp