56th Wisconsin Legislature

The Fifty-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 10, 1923, to July 14, 1923, in regular session.^[1]

This was the first legislative session after the redistricting of the Senate and Assembly according to an act of the previous session. This was the first session in Wisconsin history in which the Democratic Party held no seats in the State Senate, and with only one seat in the Assembly, this session represents the smallest legislative delegation for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin in its history (tied with 1925).

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 7, 1922. 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 3, 1920.^[1]

The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican John J. Blaine, of Grant County, serving his second two-year term, having won re-election in the 1922 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

Major events

• August 2, 1923: U.S. President Warren G. Harding died in office. He was immediately succeeded by Vice President Calvin Coolidge.
• April 1, 1924: Wisconsin voters rejected an amendment to the state constitution which would have raised legislator salary to $750 per year ($12,000 adjusted for inflation to 2023).
• May 24, 1924: U.S. President Calvin Coolidge signs the Immigration Act of 1924 into law. The law prohibited immigration from Asia and set limits on immigration from eastern and southern Europe, it also established visa requirements for travel to the United States.
• July 5, 1924: Wisconsin U.S. senator Robert M. La Follette accepted the nomination of the Progressive Party as their candidate for President of the United States.
• November 4, 1924: 1924 United States general election:
  • Calvin Coolidge elected to a full term as President of the United States. Wisconsin's electoral votes went to the Progressive nominee, home-state senator Robert M. La Follette.
  • John J. Blaine re-elected to a third term as Governor of Wisconsin.
  • Three women were elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly, the first in state history.
  • Wisconsin voters ratified three amendments to the state constitution:
    • to enable the Legislature to add judges to existing high-population circuits in the Wisconsin circuit courts system
    • to enable the Legislature to make appropriations for forestry improvements
    • to grant home rule to cities and villages

Major legislation

• 1923 Joint Resolution 18. Second legislative passage of the proposed amendment to the state constitution to increase legislator pay to $750 per year. This was a second attempt to update legislator pay after Wisconsin voters rejected a different proposed amendment to allow legislators to set their own pay in 1920. This new amendment was also defeated by voters at the April 1924 election.
• 1923 Joint Resolution 34. Second legislative passage of the proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the state to appropriate funds for forestry improvements. This amendment was ratified by voters at the November 1924 election.
• 1923 Joint Resolution 57. Second legislative passage of the proposed amendment to the state constitution to grant home rule to all cities and villages in the state. This amendment was ratified by voters at the November 1924 election.
• 1923 Joint Resolution 64. Second legislative passage of the proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the legislature to add new Wisconsin ciruict court judges to high population circuits. This amendment was ratified by voters at the November 1924 election.

Party summary

Senate summary

Assembly summary

Sessions

• Regular session: January 10, 1923 – July 14, 1923

Leaders

Senate leadership

• President of the Senate: George Comings (R)
• President pro tempore: Henry Huber (R–Stoughton)

Assembly leadership

• Speaker of the Assembly: John L. Dahl (R–Rice Lake)

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Fifty-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature:^[2]

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Fifty-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature:^[2]

Committees

Senate committees

• Senate Standing Committee on Committees – H. J. Severson, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Contingent Expenditures – H. E. Roethe, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Corporations – H. J. Severson, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Education and Public Welfare – E. T. Ridgway, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on Highways – J. E. Cashman, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on the Judiciary – H. Teasdale, chair
• Senate Standing Committee on State Affairs – W. A. Titus, chair

Assembly committees

• Assembly Standing Committee on Agriculture – J. C. Hanson, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and Manufactures – F. J. Petersen, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent Expenditures – F. E. Moul, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Education – J. D. Millar, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Elections – W. F. Miller, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed Bills – W. F. Dettinger, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled Bills – P. Ankerson, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and Fees – J. Peltier, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Fish and Game – N. Spoor, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Highways – G. A. Nelson, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and Banking – A. C. Johnson, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on the Judiciary – H. W. Sachtjen, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Labor – E. H. Killian, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Municipalities – E. B. Minier, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Printing – A. Holly, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Public Welfare – C. M. Grimstad, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Revision – G. H. Jones, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Rules – H. W. Sachtjen, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on State Affairs – J. Goodman, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Taxation – C. E. Hanson, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Third Reading – A. G. Becker, chair
• Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation – H. Ott, chair

Joint committees

• Joint Standing Committee on Finance – H. Huber (Sen.) & C. E. Tuffley (Asm.), co-chairs

Employees

Senate employees

• Chief Clerk: F. W. Schoenfeld^[3]
  • Assistant Chief Clerk: Charles E. Mullen
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Charles A. Leicht
  • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: John J. Knudsen
• Postmaster: Joseph V. Janda

Assembly employees

• Chief Clerk: C. E. Shaffer^[3]
  • Journal Clerk: W. A. Lawton
• Sergeant-at-Arms: Thomas W. Bartingale
  • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Olaf Goldstrand
• Postmaster: Frank C. Densmore

Changes from the 55th Legislature

New districts for the 56th Legislature were defined in 1921 Wisconsin Act 470, passed into law in the 55th Wisconsin Legislature.

Senate redistricting

Summary of Senate changes

• 12 districts were left unchanged
• Milwaukee County went from having 6 districts to 7 (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9).
• Racine County became a single district again (21) after previously having been in a shared district with Kenosha.
• Rock County became a single district again (15) after previously having been in a shared district with Walworth.

Senate districts

Assembly redistricting

Summary of Assembly changes

• At least 56 districts were left unchanged.
• Green Lake and Waushara became a shared district after previously having been separate districts.
• Jefferson County went from having 2 districts to 1.
• Kenosha County went from having 1 district to 2.
• Milwaukee County went from having 19 districts to 20.
• Racine County went from having 2 districts to 3.
• Winnebago County went from having 3 districts to 2.

Assembly districts

Notes

1. ^ Republican Ole G. Kinney (District 11) died before the start of the term.
2. ^ Republican Marcus A. Kemp (District 11) was sworn in to replace Ole G. Kinney.
3. ^ Republican Ben H. Mahon (District 9) died.
4. ^ Republican James T. Oliver (Brown County) died.

References

1. ^ "Historical Lists". State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2021–2022. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. 2021. pp. 467, 471, 475, 479–480. ISBN 978-1-7333817-1-0. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
2. ^ "Biographical". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1923. Wisconsin State Printing Board. 1923. pp. 602–640. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
3. ^ "State Government". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1923. Wisconsin State Printing Board. 1923. pp. 589–592. Retrieved June 27, 2023.

External links

• 1923: Related Documents from Wisconsin Legislature