The Fifty-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session, and reconvened in a special session in April 1926.
This was the first session in the history of the Wisconsin Legislature with female legislators. There were three in this session: Mildred Barber, Hellen M. Brooks, and Helen F. Thompson.
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, 1924. 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, 1922.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican John J. Blaine, of Grant County, serving his third two-year term, having won re-election in the 1924 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Major events January 5, 1925: Third inauguration of John J. Blaine as Governor of Wisconsin. March 4, 1925: Second inauguration of President Calvin Coolidge. April 7, 1925: E. Ray Stevens was elected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. June 18, 1925: Wisconsin's senior United States senator, Robert M. La Follette, died in Washington, D.C. June 24, 1925: A statue of Hans Christian Heg was unveiled on the grounds of the Wisconsin State Capitol. August 8, 1925: Roughly 30,000 members of the Ku Klux Klan paraded through Washington, D.C. September 18, 1925: The Green Bay Packers played their first game at City Stadium. September 29, 1925: Robert M. La Follette Jr. won a special election to succeed his father as United States senator from Wisconsin. December 31, 1925: Wisconsin Assembly speaker Herman W. Sachtjen resigned from the Assembly after being appointed a Wisconsin circuit court judge. March 16, 1926: Robert H. Goddard launched the first liquid-fuel rocket in Auburn, Massachusetts. May 20, 1926: The Air Commerce Act was signed into law by U.S. President Calvin Coolidge, establishing the first flight safety regulations in the United States. November 2, 1926: 1926 United States general election: Fred R. Zimmerman elected Governor of Wisconsin. Incumbent Wisconsin governor John J. Blaine elected United States senator from Wisconsin. Wisconsin voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution: Allowing the Governor's salary to be set by legislation rather than fixed in the constitution. Allowing the recall of elected officials to be initiated by public petition. November 11, 1926: The United States Numbered Highway System was established by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
Major legislation May 21, 1925: An Act ... relating to the minimum wage for women and minor employes, 1925 Act 176. Created new regulatory and permitting powers for the Wisconsin Industrial Commission to ensure adequate compensation for women and children in the workplace. 1925 Joint Resolution 7: Joint Resolution ratifying an amendment to the constitution of the United States relating to child labor. Wisconsin's ratification of the Child Labor Amendment. 1925 Joint Resolution 16: Joint Resolution to create section 12 of article XIII of the constitution, relating to the recall of elective public officers. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to enable the recall of public officials, initiated by public petition. This amendment was ratified at the November 1926 election. 1925 Joint Resolution 24: Joint Resolution memorializing congress to provide for earlier seating of senators and representatives elect. Endorsed moving the start of congressional sessions from March to January. 1925 Joint Resolution 26: Joint Resolution to amend sections 2 and 3 of article VII of the constitution, relating to the jurisdiction of the judiciary over acts of the legislature. In an attempted power grab by the Legislature, this amendment to the state constitution was proposed to require a two-thirds majority of the state supreme court to find an act of the legislature unconstitutional. This amendment was never ratified. 1925 Joint Resolution 29: Joint Resolution memorializing Congress to propose an amendment to the constitution of the United States providing for the election of president and vice-president by popular vote. 1925 Joint Resolution 33: Joint Resolution to amend section 21 of article IV of the constitution, relating to compensation of members of the legislature. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to update the legislator salary to $1,000 per term. This amendment was rejected by voters in 1927. 1925 Joint Resolution 52: Joint Resolution to amend section 5 of article V of the constitution, relating to the compensation of the governor. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the governor's pay to be set by legislation rather than fixed in the constitution. This amendment was ratified at the November 1926 election. 1925 Joint Resolution 61: Joint Resolution to amend section 1 of article VIII of the constitution, relating to taxation of forests and minerals and of forest and mineral lands. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to adjust taxation of forest land. This amendment was ratified by voters in 1927.
Party summary Senate summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Soc. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 0 3 29 32 1 Start of Reg. Session 0 3 30 33 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 0 2 31 33 0
Assembly summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Soc. Ind. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 1 10 0 88 99 1 Start of Reg. Session 1 7 0 92 100 0 From Apr. 15, 1925Republican Frank Roemhild (Barron County) died. 91 99 1 From Dec. 31, 1925Republican Herman W. Sachtjen (Dane County) resigned. 90 98 2 From Jan. 3, 1926Republican Erick H. Johnson (Burnett & Washburn counties) died. 89 97 3 From Aug. 20, 1926Republican Robert Naumann (Manitowoc County) died. 88 96 4 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 2 8 1 89 100 0
Sessions Regular session: January 14, 1925June 29, 1925 April 1926 special session: April 15, 1926April 16, 1926
Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Henry Huber (R) President pro tempore: Howard Teasdale (R–Sparta)
Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: Herman W. Sachtjen (R–Madison) (until Dec. 31, 1925) George A. Nelson (R–Milltown) (from April 15, 1926)
Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Fifty-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Denmark Rep. 02 Brown Oconto Rep. 03 Milwaukee (South City) Milwaukee Soc. 04 Milwaukee (Northeast County Milwaukee Rep. 05 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 06 Milwaukee Milwaukee Soc. 07 Milwaukee (Southeast County Milwaukee Soc. 08 Milwaukee West Milwaukee Rep. 09 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 10 Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, River FallsRep. 11 Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, SuperiorRep. 12 Ashland, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, GliddenRep. 13 Dodge Iron RidgeRep. 14 Outagamie WittenbergRep. 15 Rock EdgertonRep. 16 Crawford, Grant, FennimoreRep. 17 Green, Iowa, GratiotRep. 18 , Fond du LacRep. 19 Calumet WinneconneRep. 20 Ozaukee Sheboygan FallsRep. 21 Racine Racine Rep. 22 Kenosha Whitewater Rep. 23 Portage Iola Rep. 24 Clark, Taylor, Neillsville Rep. 25 Lincoln Marathon City Rep. 26 Dane Madison Rep. 27 Columbia, Richland, Portage Rep. 28 Chippewa Eau Claire Rep. 29 Barron, Dunn, Frederic Rep. 30 Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, Antigo Rep. 31 Adams, Juneau, Monroe, Sparta Rep. 32 Jackson, La Crosse, Holmen Rep. 33 Jefferson Rep.
Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Fifty-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:
SenateDist. County Dist. Representative Party Residence 31 Adams Rep. Adams 12 Ashland Rep. Ashland 29 Barron Rep. Prairie Farm --Vacant from Apr. 15, 1925-- 11 Bayfield Rep. Washburn 02 Brown 1 Rep. Green Bay 2 Rep. Lawrence 10 Buffalo Rep. Durand 11 Burnett Rep. --Vacant from Jan. 3, 1926-- 19 Calumet Rep. Brillion 28 Chippewa Rep. Cadott 24 Clark Rep. Neillsville 27 Columbia Rep. Lodi 16 Crawford Rep. Soldiers Grove 26 Dane 1 Rep. Madison --Vacant from Jan. 1, 1926-- 2 Rep. Deerfield 3 Rep. Mount Horeb 13 Dodge 1 Rep. Brownsville 2 Rep. Burnett 01 Door Rep. Ephraim 11 Douglas 1 Rep. Superior 2 Rep. Superior 29 Dunn Rep. Menomonie 28 Eau Claire Rep. Pleasant Valley 30 Florence, Forest, Rep. Rhinelander 18 Fond du Lac 1 Rep. Fond du Lac 2 Rep. Campbellsport 16 Grant 1 Rep. Platteville 2 Rep. Boscobel 17 Green Rep. Monroe 18 Green Lake Rep. Coloma 17 Iowa Rep. Mineral Point 12 Iron Rep. Hurley 32 Jackson Rep. Hixton 33 Jefferson Rep. Waterloo 31 Juneau Rep. Mauston 22 Kenosha 1 Rep. Kenosha 2 Rep. Genoa City 01 Kewaunee Rep. Carlton 32 La Crosse 1 Rep. La Crosse 2 Rep. West Salem 17 Lafayette Rep. Lamont 30 Langlade Dem. Antigo 25 Lincoln Rep. Merrill 01 Manitowoc 1 Rep. Manitowoc --Vacant from Aug. 20, 1926-- 2 Rep. Maple Grove 25 Marathon 1 Rep. Marathon 2 Rep. Wausau 30 Marinette Rep. Crivitz 09 Milwaukee 1 Rep. Milwaukee 2 Rep. Milwaukee 04 3 Soc. Milwaukee 4 Soc. Milwaukee 07 5 Rep. Milwaukee 06 6 Rep. Milwaukee 7 Soc. Milwaukee 03 8 Soc. Milwaukee 06 9 Soc. Milwaukee 08 10 Rep. Milwaukee 03 11 Soc. Milwaukee 05 12 Rep. Milwaukee 04 13 Rep. Milwaukee 07 14 Rep. Milwaukee 05 15 Rep. Milwaukee 08 16 Rep. Wauwatosa 07 17 Rep. Lake 04 18 Rep. Whitefish Bay 08 19 Rep. West Allis 05 20 Soc. Milwaukee 31 Monroe Rep. Greenfield 02 Oconto Rep. Oconto 14 Outagamie 1 Rep. Black Creek 2 Rep. Kaukauna 20 Ozaukee Rep. Theinsville 10 Pierce Rep. Ellsworth 29 Polk Rep. Milltown 23 Portage Rep. New Hope 12 Price Rep. Park Falls 21 Racine 1 Rep. Racine 2 Rep. Racine 3 Rep. Raymond 27 Richland Rep. Viola 15 Rock 1 Rep. Edgerton 2 Rep. Beloit 12 Rusk Rep. Bruce 27 Sauk Rep. Loganville 14 Shawano Rep. Belle Plaine 20 Sheboygan 1 Rep. Sheboygan 2 Rep. Cedar Grove 10 St. Croix Rep. New Richmond 24 Taylor Rep. Medford 32 Trempealeau Rep. Arcadia 16 Vernon Rep. Viroqua 22 Walworth Rep. Walworth 13 Washington Rep. Germantown 33 Waukesha 1 Rep. Wales 2 Rep. Sussex 23 Waupaca Rep. Clintonville 19 Winnebago 1 Rep. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Neenah 24 Wood Rep. Marshfield
Committees Senate committees Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Labor, and IndustriesH. J. Severson, chair Senate Standing Committee on CommitteesA. E. Garey, chair Senate Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresH. J. F. Bilgrien, chair Senate Standing Committee on Corporations and TaxationO. H. Johnson, chair Senate Standing Committee on Education and Public WelfareC. B. Casperson, chair Senate Standing Committee on HighwaysJ. E. Cashman, chair Senate Standing Committee on the JudiciaryM. W. Heck, chair Senate Standing Committee on State and Local GovernmentJ. L. Barber, chair
Assembly committees Assembly Standing Committee on AgricultureA. Holly, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and ManufacturesA. M. Warden, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresH. W. Stokes, chair Assembly Standing Committee on EducationG. Slack, chair Assembly Standing Committee on ElectionsA. Beversdorf, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed BillsE. E. Royce, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled BillsT. Swanson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and FeesG. W. Meggers, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Fish and GameF. E. Moul, chair Assembly Standing Committee on HighwaysF. A. Frederick, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and BankingC. G. Price, chair Assembly Standing Committee on the JudiciaryJ. W. Eber, chair Assembly Standing Committee on LaborA. M. Miller, chair Assembly Standing Committee on MunicipalitiesT. Engel, chair