48th Wisconsin Legislature

The Forty-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session. During this term, legislative business was largely held in the north wing of the Wisconsin State Capitol, which was the only part of the capitol to remain intact after the 1904 fire.

This session saw the first ever African American member of the Wisconsin Legislature— Lucian H. Palmer of Milwaukee.

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 6, 1906. 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 8, 1904.

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican James O. Davidson, of Crawford County, serving his first full two-year term, having won election in the 1906 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events

* February 15, 1907: The Gentlemen's Agreement of 1907 was reached between representatives of the United States and the Empire of Japan, in which Japan would restrict emigration to the U.S., and the U.S. would stop imposing restrictions on Japanese immigrants.
* February 16, 1907: George E. Bryant, the incumbent Wisconsin Superintendent of Public Property, died in office.
* March 3, 1907: John Coit Spooner, Wisconsin's influential senior United States senator, unexpectedly announced his resignation from office, effective May 1.
* May 17, 1907: After a long and contentious nominating process in the Republican caucus, Isaac Stephenson was elected United States Senator by the Wisconsin Legislature in joint session to fill the remainder of John C. Spooner's term.
* July 3, 1907: A tornado struck Neillsville, Wisconsin, resulting in at least 15 deaths.
* October 24, 1907: A major U.S. financial crisis was averted by a group of Wall Street financiers who pooled $25,000,000 to prop up failing stocks during the Panic of 1907.
* December 30, 1907: Wisconsin Supreme Court chief justice John B. Cassoday died in office. He was immediately succeeded, as chief justice, by John B. Winslow, due to the rule of seniority.
* January 8, 1908: Robert McKee Bashford was appointed to the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Governor James O. Davidson, to replace the deceased justice John B. Cassoday for the remainder of the 1907–1908 court term.
* April 7, 1908: John Barnes defeated the recently appointed Robert McKee Bashford in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election to fill the seat of deceased justice John B. Cassoday, for the term beginning July 1, 1908.
* June 30, 1908: An asteroid or comet exploded in the air near the Podkamennaya Tunguska in Russia. Known as the Tunguska event, it was the largest impact event on Earth in recorded history.
* November 3, 1908: 1908 United States general election:
** William Howard Taft elected President of the United States.
** James O. Davidson re-elected Governor of Wisconsin.
** Voters approved an amendment to the Wisconsin constitution to limit voting rights to only U.S. citizens.
** Voters approved an amendment to the Wisconsin constitution to limit the time allowed for gubernatorial vetoes.
** Voters approved an amendment to the Wisconsin constitution to allow the state to implement an income tax.
** Voters approved an amendment to the Wisconsin constitution to allow the state to implement a highway funding mechanism.

Major legislation

* Joint Resolution to amend section 10, article V, of the constitution, relating to the approval of bills by the governor
1907 Joint Resolution 13
Second legislative approval of the constitutional amendment to limit the time allowed for a gubernatorial veto. This amendment was then ratified by voters in the 1908 fall general election.
* Joint Resolution providing for an amendment to section 10, article VIII of the constitution, relating to internal improvements
1907 Joint Resolution 18
Second legislative approval of the constitutional amendment to authorize the state to fund highway construction. This amendment was also ratified in the 1908 fall general election.
* Joint Resolution to amend section 3 of article X of the constitution, relating to the school age of children
1907 Joint Resolution 23
Proposed an amendment to the state constitution to make public school cover children from age six to 20.
* Joint Resolution to amend section 1 of article III of the constitution, relating to electors
1907 Joint Resolution 25
Second legislative approval of the constitutional amendment to limit voting rights to only U.S. citizens. This amendment was also ratified in the 1908 fall general election.
* Joint Resolution 28
1907 Joint Resolution 28
Reiterating Wisconsin's call for an amendment to the U.S. constitution for direct election of U.S. senators.
* Joint Resolution 29
1907 Joint Resolution 29
Second legislative approval of the constitutional amendment to authorize a state income tax. This amendment was also ratified in the 1908 fall general election.
* Joint Resolution providing an amendment to section 3 of article IV, ox the constitution of the state of Wisconsin, relating to apportionment
1907 Joint Resolution 30
Proposing an amendment to the state constitution to make redistricting a once-per-decade process following the release of the decennial U.S. census. U to this time, Wisconsin had conducted redistricting twice per decade.
* Joint Resolution to amend section 10 of article VIII of the constitution
1907 Joint Resolution 31
Proposed an amendment to the state constitution to allow the state to more directly invest in certain public works projects.
* Joint Resolution to amend section 21 of article IV of the constitution, relating to the compensation of members of the legislature
1907 Joint Resolution 35
Proposing an amendment to the state constitution to double the compensation for legislators.

Party summary

Senate summary

Assembly summary

Sessions

* 1st Regular session: January 9, 1907July 16, 1907

Leaders

Senate leadership

* President of the Senate: William D. Connor ( R)
* President pro tempore: James Huff Stout ( R– Menomonie)

Assembly leadership

* Speaker of the Assembly: Herman Ekern ( R–Whitehall)

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Forty-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature:

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Forty-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature:

Committees

Senate committees

* Senate Committee on AgricultureWolff, chair
* Senate Committee on Banks and InsuranceJ. E. Roehr, chair
* Senate Committee on EducationJ. H. Stout, chair
* Senate Committee on ElectionsMartin, chair
* Senate Committee on Engrossed BillsLockney, chair
* Senate Committee on Federal RelationsStondall, chair
* Senate Committee on the JudiciarySanborn, chair
* Senate Committee on Legislative Expenditures and EmployeesMorris, chair
* Senate Committee on Manufacturers and LaborFroemming, chair
* Senate Committee on Military AffairsFairchild, chair
* Senate Committee on Public HealthNoble, chair
* Senate Committee on Roads and BridgesBrowne, chair
* Senate Committee on State AffairsMunson, chair
* Senate Committee on TaxationWilcox, chair
* Senate Committee on Towns and CountiesBarker, chair
* Senate Committee on TransportationHudnall, chair
* Senate Committee on Villages and CitiesWright, chair

Assembly committees

* Assembly Committee on AgricultureJ. A. Fridd, chair
* Assembly Committee on Banks and InsuranceG. E. Scott, chair
* Assembly Committee on CitiesC. E. Estabrook, chair
* Assembly Committee on Dairy and FoodJ. A. McKenzie, chair
* Assembly Committee on DamsE. F. Nelson, chair
* Assembly Committee on EducationD. McGregor, chair
* Assembly Committee on ElectionsT. A. Roycraft, chair
* Assembly Committee on Engrossed BillsL. N. Clausen, chair
* Assembly Committee on Federal RelationsA. J. Jerdee, chair
* Assembly Committee on the JudiciaryC. A. Ingram, chair
* Assembly Committee on LibrariesL. Ledvina, chair
* Assembly Committee on Legislative Expenditures and EmployeesF. J. Kimball, chair
* Assembly Committee on Lumber and MiningF. J. Carpenter, chair
* Assembly Committee on Manufactures and LaborW. H. Bell, chair
* Assembly Committee on Military AffairsW. M. Perry, chair
* Assembly Committee on Public HealthW. Irvine, chair
* Assembly Committee on Public ImprovementsC. J. Hagen, chair
* Assembly Committee on Roads and BridgesP. Norcross, chair
* Assembly Committee on State AffairsW. R. Turner, chair
* Assembly Committee on the State FairJ. D. Harring, chair
* Assembly Committee on TaxationE. H. Sprague, chair
* Assembly Committee on Third ReadingH. E. Roethe, chair
* Assembly Committee on Towns and CountiesW. H. Falvey, chair
* Assembly Committee on TransportationE. W. LeRoy, chair
* Assembly Committee on VillagesD. F. Mains, chair

Joint committees

* Joint Committee on the CapitolWhitehead (Sen.) & A. S. Baker (Asm.), co-chairs
* Joint Committee on Charitable and Penal InstitutionsHagemeister(Sen.) & J. O. Thomas (Asm.), co-chairs
* Joint Committee on ClaimsBurns (Sen.) & R. Ainsworth (Asm.), co-chairs
* Joint Committee on Enrolled BillsMarsh (Sen.) & F. Ties (Asm.), co-chairs
* Joint Committee on Fish and GamePage (Sen.) & E. A. Everett (Asm.), co-chairs
* Joint Committee on ForestryBird (Sen.) & W. M. Curtiss (Asm.), co-chairs
* Joint Committee on PrintingOwen (Sen.) & V. S. Keppel (Asm.), co-chairs
* Joint Committee on RevisionBrazeau (Sen.) & C. F. Stout (Asm.), co-chairs
* Joint Committee on RulesStout (Sen.) & D. McGregor (Asm.), co-chairs
* Joint Committee on State DepartmentsFridd (Sen.) & A. Kuckuk (Asm.), co-chairs
* Special Joint Committee on ApportionmentWhitehead (Sen.) & R. J. Nye (Asm.), co-chairs

Employees

Senate employees

* Chief Clerk: A. R. Emerson
** Journal Clerk: R. E. Smith
*** Assistant Journal Clerk: William Gray
** Bookkeeper: Fred M. Wylie
** Engrossing Clerk: J. C. Miller
** Index Clerk: C. W. Rhodes
** Stenographer Clerks:
*** R. R. Hillyer
*** A. W. Galloway
*** C. R. Welton
*** T. H. Jones
*** F. W. Spencer
*** J. H. Sapiro
*** A. C. Tretow
*** D. W. Swartz
*** John Bessey
** Typewriter Clerks:
*** R. A. Merrill
*** L. B. Webster
*** O. P. Peterson
*** C. E. Rightor
*** W. T. Kelsey
*** Max Schoetz
* Sergeant-at-Arms: Russell C. Falconer
** Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Charles Good
** Document Clerk: Elmer Pierce
** Police: Olaf Goldsbrand
** Night Watch: M. R. Stanley
** Night Laborer: K. Thompson
* Postmaster: Christoph Paulus
** Messengers:
*** Vincent Kalpinski
*** Emil C. Cady
*** John W. Moffatt
*** Harold M. Lampert
*** Karl Helmholz
*** Matthew Button
*** J. W. Damm
*** Harry Cotey

Assembly employees

* Chief Clerk: C. E. Shaffer
** Journal Clerk: W. W. Jones
*** Assistant Journal Clerk: G. H. Kiland
** Bookkeeper: S. S. Summers
** General Clerk: J. E. Noyes (later I. R. Nash)
*** 2nd General Clerk: W. J. Goldschmidt
** Enrolling Clerk: R. E. Knoff
** Engrossing Clerk: N. J. Frey
** Index Clerk: William L. Bullock
** Stenographers:
*** G. W. Stevens
*** Burton L. Warriner
*** L. T. Pond
*** March Polk
*** A. J. Nelson
*** C. A. Nickerson
*** Leon Lewis
*** P. H. Presentin
*** James McNeeley
*** L. P. Larson
*** A. T. Twesme
** Typewriters:
*** C. M. Gillett
*** L. L. Oeland
*** D. E. Mowry
*** J. C. Hawker
*** H. C. Hopson
*** Wendell Woodruff
*** P. L. Priest
* Sergeant-at-Arms: William S. Irvine
** Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: H. A. Graham
** Document Clerk: A. H. Bartlett
*** Assistant Document Clerk: A. E. Hart
** Police: John Steele
** Night Watch: Obert Sletton
** Night Laborers:
*** John Curtin
*** H. G. Hart
* Postmaster: John Harris
** Assistant Postmaster: J. R. Snyder
** Messengers:
*** Ed. S. Malone
*** Helmer Femrite
*** A. W. Prehn
*** Lyman Keyes
*** Frank Hagen
*** W. W. Studeman
*** J. W. Gaurke
*** Selmer Gunderson
*** H. W. Kellar
*** Walter Reif
*** C. T. Puls
*** E. S. Polley

References

External links

1907: Related Documents
from Wisconsin Legislature

{{Wisconsin legislatures

1907 in Wisconsin
1908 in Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin legislative sessions