55th Wisconsin Legislature explained

55th Wisconsin Legislature
Body:	Wisconsin Legislature
Before:	54th
After:	56th
Chamber1:	Senate
Membership1:	33
Control1:	Republican
Chamber2:	Assembly
Membership2:	100
Control2:	Republican
Session1 Type:	Regular

The Fifty-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session, and re-convened in a special session in March 1922.^[1]

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 3, 1920. 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 5, 1918.^[1]

Major events

• January 3, 1921: Inauguration of John J. Blaine as the 24th Governor of Wisconsin.
• January 29, 1921: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice James C. Kerwin died in office.
• March 4, 1921: Inauguration of Warren G. Harding as the 29th President of the United States.
• March 11, 1921: Christian Doerfler was appointed a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Governor, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of justice
• May 19, 1921: U.S. President Warren G. Harding signed the Emergency Quota Act into law, limiting the immigration of southern and eastern Europeans to the United States.
• December 6, 1921: The Anglo-Irish Treaty formally ends the Irish War of Independence, establishing the Irish Free State.
• February 6, 1922: The Five Power Naval Disarmament Treaty was signed between the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, France, and Italy. The treaty placed limits on construction of battleships and placed weight limitations on other naval ships.
• February 12, 1922: Wisconsin chief justice Robert G. Siebecker died in office. Justice Aad J. Vinje immediately succeeded to the position of chief justice due to the rule of seniority.
• April 3, 1922: Joseph Stalin was appointed General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Soviet Communist Party.
• April 4, 1922: Attorney Charles H. Crownhart was appointed a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Governor, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of chief justice
• May 15, 1922: The WCAY radio station began broadcasting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
• May 30, 1922: Dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
• June 14, 1922: U.S. President Warren G. Harding made the first presidential speech over radio.
• October 31, 1922: Benito Mussolini became Prime Minister of Italy after leading a coup d'état with his National Fascist Party.
• November 7, 1922: 1922 United States general election:
  • John J. Blaine re-elected Governor of Wisconsin.
  • Robert M. La Follette re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin.
  • Wisconsin voters approved an amendment to the state constitution changing jury rules for civil trials, so that a verdict requires at least five-sixths majority.
  • Wisconsin voters rejected two other amendments to the state constitution:
    • to remove term limits from sheriffs
    • to allow municipalities to take on additional debt to pay for streetcars or power, water, or heat infrastructure
• November 11, 1922: The Lausanne Conference recognized the Republic of Turkey as having replaced the Ottoman sultanate as the legitimate government of Turkey.
• December 30, 1922: The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was created by the union of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, and the Transcaucasian Republic.

Major legislation

• July 9, 1921: An Act ... relating to the re-apportionment of the state into assembly and senatorial districts, 1921 Act 470.
• Joint Resolution to amend section 5, article I of the constitution, relating to trial by jury, 1921 Joint Resolution 17. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to change jury rules for civil trials, so that a verdict requires a minimum of five-sixths of the jury. This amendment was ratified by voters in the November 1922 election.
• Joint Resolution to amend section 7 of article VII of the constitution, relating to circuit judges, 1921 Joint Resolution 24. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to expand the number of circuits eligible for having multiple judges.
• Joint Resolution to amend section 21 of article IV of the constitution, relating to compensation or members of the legislature, 1921 Joint Resolution 28. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to raise legislative pay to $750 per year ($12,000 adjusted for inflation to 2023). Voters had just defeated another amendment which would have given the Legislature control of their own salary in 1920. This amendment would also ultimately be defeated in April 1924.
• Joint Resolution to amend section 10 of article VIII of the constitution, relating to internal improvements, 1921 Joint Resolution 29. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow state spending on forestry improvements.
• Joint Resolution to amend section 4 of article VI of the constitution, relating to county officers, 1921 Joint Resolution 36. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to remove term limits for sheriffs. This amendment was defeated by voters in the November 1922 election.
• Joint Resolution to create section 3b of article XI of the constitution, relating to the indebtedness of municipal corporations, 1921 Joint Resolution 37. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow municipalities to take on additional debt for street rail or other utilities. This amendment was defeated by voters in the November 1922 election.
• Joint Resolution to amend section 3 of article XI of the constitution, relating to powers of cities and villages, 1921 Joint Resolution 39. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to grant home rule to all cities and villages in the state.

Party summary

Senate summary

	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)			Total
	Dem.	Soc.	Rep.		Vacant
End of previous Legislature	2	4		27	32	1
Start of 1st Session	2	4		27	33	0
Final voting share
Beginning of the next Legislature	0	3		29	32	1

Assembly summary

	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)			Total
	Dem.	Soc.	Rep.		Vacant
End of previous Legislature	6	16		76	98	2
Start of 1st Session	2	6		92	100	0
From Jan. 15, 1921^[2]				91	99	1
From Mar. 8, 1921^[3]				92	100	0
Final voting share
Beginning of the next Legislature	1	10		89	100	0

Sessions

• Regular session: January 12, 1921July 14, 1921
• March 1922 special session: March 22, 1922March 28, 1922

Leaders

Senate leadership

• President of the Senate: George Comings (R)
• President pro tempore: Timothy Burke (R–Green Bay)

Assembly leadership

• Speaker of the Assembly: Riley S. Young (R–Darien)

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Fifty-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:^[4]

Dist.	Counties	Senator	Residence	Party
01	Door, Kewaunee,		Sturgeon Bay		Rep.
02			Green Bay		Rep.
03			Racine		Rep.
04			Milwaukee		Rep.
05			Milwaukee		Soc.
06			Milwaukee		Soc.
07			Milwaukee		Soc.
08			Milwaukee		Rep.
09			Milwaukee		Dem.
10	Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce,		River Falls		Rep.
11	Burnett, Douglas,		Superior		Rep.
12	Ashland, Bayfield, Price, Rusk,		Ashland		Rep.
13			Iron Ridge		Rep.
14			Shawano		Rep.
15			Rantoul		Soc.
16	Crawford, Grant,		Fennimore		Rep.
17	Green, Iowa,		Blanchardville		Rep.
18			Fond du Lac		Rep.
19	Winnebago		Neenah		Rep.
20			Sheboygan		Rep.
21	Adams, Juneau, Marquette,		Westfield		Rep.
22			Elkhorn		Rep.
23			Iola		Rep.
24			Neillsville		Rep.
25			Wausau		Rep.
26	Dane		Stoughton		Rep.
27			Caledonia		Rep.
28	Chippewa,		Eau Claire		Rep.
29	Barron, Dunn,		Menomonie		Rep.
30	Florence, Forest, Iron, Lincoln, Oneida, Taylor,		Rhinelander		Rep.
31	Jackson, Monroe,		Viroqua		Rep.
32			Galesville		Rep.
33					Dem.

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Fifty-Fifth Wisconsin Legislature:^[4]

Senate Dist.	County	Dist.	Representative	Party	Residence
21	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Rep.	Montello
12	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Ashland			Rep.	Ashland
29	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Barron			Rep.	Rice Lake
12	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Bayfield			Rep.	Washburn
02	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Brown	1			Rep.	Green Bay
	2			Rep.	Lawrence
10	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Rep.	Gilmanton
11	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Rep.
15	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Calumet			Dem.	Harrison
28	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Chippewa			Rep.
24	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Clark			Rep.
27	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Columbia			Rep.	Lodi
16	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Crawford			Rep.	Soldiers Grove
26	text-align="left" rowspan="3"	Dane	1			Rep.	Madison
	2			Rep.	Christiana
	3			Rep.	Mount Horeb
13	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Dodge	1			Rep.	Emmet
	2			Rep.	Burnett
01	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Door			Rep.
11	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Douglas	1			Rep.	Superior
	2			Rep.	Parkland
29	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Dunn			Rep.	Tiffany
28	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Eau Claire			Rep.	Washington
30	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Florence, Forest,			Rep.	Argonne
18	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Fond du Lac	1			Rep.	Friendship
	2			Rep.	Brandon
16	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Grant	1			Rep.	Platteville
	2			Rep.	Boscobel
17	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Green			Rep.	Jordan
18	Green Lake			Rep.	Green Lake
				Rep.	Markesan
17	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Iowa			Rep.	Linden
30	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Rep.	Hurley
31	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Jackson			Rep.	Hixton
33	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Jefferson	1			Rep.	Watertown
	2			Rep.	Waterloo
21	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Juneau			Rep.	Mauston
03	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Kenosha			Rep.	Kenosha
01	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Kewaunee			Rep.	Carlton
32	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	La Crosse	1			Rep.	La Crosse
	2			Rep.	Barre
17	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Lafayette			Rep.	Lamont
25	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Dem.	Antigo
30	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Rep.	Tomahawk
15	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Manitowoc	1			Rep.	Meeme
	2			Rep.	Franklin
25	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Marathon	1			Rep.	Colby
	2			Rep.	Wausau
01	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Marinette			Rep.
09	text-align="left" rowspan="19"	Milwaukee	1			Rep.	Milwaukee
	2			Rep.	Milwaukee
	3			Rep.	Milwaukee
05	4			Rep.	Milwaukee
08	5			Rep.	Milwaukee
05	6			Rep.	Milwaukee
	7			Soc.	Milwaukee
08	8			Soc.	Milwaukee
06	9			Soc.	Milwaukee
04	10			Soc.	Milwaukee
08	11			Soc.	Milwaukee
	12			Rep.	Milwaukee
04	13			Rep.	Milwaukee
07	14			Soc.	Milwaukee
05	15			Rep.	Milwaukee
	16			Rep.	Milwaukee
07	17			Rep.	Milwaukee
04	18			Rep.	Milwaukee
07	19			Rep.
31	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Monroe			Rep.	Tomah
02	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Oconto			Rep.	Oconto
14	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Outagamie	1			Rep.	Appleton
	2			Rep.	Kaukauna
20	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Ozaukee			Rep.	Belgium
10	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Pierce			Rep.	River Falls
29	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Polk			Rep.	Milltown
23	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Portage			Rep.
12	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Price			Rep.	Phillips
03	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Racine	1			Rep.	Racine
	2			Rep.	Norway
28	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Richland			Rep.	Viola
22	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Rock	1			Rep.	Janesville
	2			Rep.	Beloit
12	text-align="left" colspan="2"				Rep.
27	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Sauk			Rep.	Westfield
14	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Shawano			Rep.	Belle Plaine
20	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Sheboygan	1			Rep.	Sheboygan
	2			Rep.	Plymouth
10	text-align="left" colspan="2"	St. Croix			Rep.	New Richmond
30	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Taylor			Rep.	Medford
32	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Trempealeau			Rep.	Whitehall
31	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Vernon			Rep.	Viroqua
23	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Walworth			Rep.	Darien
13	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Washington			Rep.	Addison
33	text-align="left" rowspan="2"	Waukesha	1			Rep.	Waukesha
	2			Rep.	Sussex
23	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Waupaca			Rep.	Clintonville
21	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Waushara			Rep.	Coloma
19	text-align="left" rowspan="3"	Winnebago	1			Rep.	Oshkosh
	2			Rep.	Neenah
	3			Rep.	Algoma
24	text-align="left" colspan="2"	Wood			Rep.	Hansen

Committees

Senate committees

• Senate Standing Committee on CommitteesG. B. Skogmo, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresH. Huber, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on CorporationsG. B. Skogmo, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Education and Public WelfareA. Kuckuk, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on HighwaysE. F. Clark, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on the JudiciaryJ. A. Conant, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Legislative ProcedureT. Burke, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on State AffairsH. E. Roethe, chair

Assembly committees

• Assembly Standing Committee on AgricultureW. Olson, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and ManufacturesJ. E. Johnson, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresJ. C. Hanson, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on EducationM. L. Hineman, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on ElectionsF. Hess, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed BillsA. Becker, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled BillsT. W. Bartingale, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and FeesR. M. Atcherson, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Fish and GameM. S. Catlin, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on HighwaysR. Bullis, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and BankingB. H. Mahon, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on the JudiciaryJ. B. French, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on LaborW. A. Freehoff, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on MunicipalitiesC. M. Perry, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on PrintingF. W. Downs, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Public WelfareF. J. Petersen, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on RevisionC. Weittenhiller, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on RulesJ. B. French, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on State AffairsA. E. Matheson, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on TaxationW. H. Edwards, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Third ReadingJ. T. Oliver, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on TransportationL. J. Pierson, chair

Joint committees

• Joint Standing Committee on FinanceR. J. Nye (Sen.) & G. Oakes (Asm.), co-chairs

Employees

Senate employees

• Chief Clerk: Oliver G. Munson^[5]
  • Assistant Chief Clerk: Charles E. Mullen
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Vincent Kielpinski
  • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Olaf Goldstrand
• Postmaster: Frank C. Densmore

Assembly employees

• Chief Clerk: C. E. Shaffer^[5]
  • Journal Clerk: W. A. Lawton
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Thomas Grant Cretney
  • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Ernest F. Wright
• Postmaster: G. I. Brader

External links

• 1921: Related Documents from Wisconsin Legislature

Notes and References

1. State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2021–2022 . 2021 . Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau . 978-1-7333817-1-0 . Barish . Lawrence S. . Lemanski . Lynn . https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/misc/lrb/blue_book/2021_2022/160_historical_lists.pdf . Historical Lists . 467, 471, 475, 479–480 . March 11, 2023 .
2. Republican Samuel Owens (Green Lake County) died.
3. Republican Ira W. Parker (Green Lake County) was sworn in to replace Samuel Owens.
4. The Wisconsin Blue Book 1921 . Wisconsin State Printing Board . 1921 . Biographical Sketches . 237–295 . June 25, 2023 .
5. The Wisconsin Blue Book 1921 . Wisconsin State Printing Board . 1921 . Organization of Legislature, 1921 . 299–302 . June 25, 2023 .