The Forty-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session.
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 8, 1898. 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, 1896.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Edward Scofield, of Oconto County, serving his second two-year term, having won re-election in the 1898 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.
Major events January 31, 1899: Joseph V. Quarles was elected United States Senator by the Wisconsin Legislature in joint session, after 93 ballots in the Republican caucus and 6 ballots in joint session. February 4, 1899: United States Army occupation forces at Manila opened fire against armed Philippine militia, who were demanding Philippine independence, inciting the Philippine–American War. March 14, 1899: USS Philadelphia took control of the Samoan capital Apia in the midst of the Second Samoan Civil War. June 12, 1899: The 1899 New Richmond tornado completely destroyed the city of New Richmond, Wisconsin. November 21, 1899: Vice President of the United States Garret Hobart died in office. December 2, 1899: The Tripartite Convention in Washington, D.C., ended the Second Samoan Civil War by dividing the territory into a German-administered colony and an American-administered colony. March 14, 1900: The United States Gold Standard Act goes into effect, fixing the value of the U.S. dollar to a specific gold weight. November 6, 1900: 1900 United States general election: Robert M. "Fighting Bob" La Follette elected Governor of Wisconsin. William McKinley re-elected President of the United States.
Major legislation March 30, 1899: An Act to provide for the registration of all persons now engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in the state of Wisconsin, who were engaged in such practice on or before the first day of July, 1897, 1899 Act 87. Joint Resolution proposing to amend section 10, of article 8, of the constitution of Wisconsin, relating to good roads, 1899 Joint Resolution 1. Proposed an amendment to the state constitution to exempt spending on roads from constitutional limitations on deficit spending. Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to article 11 of the constitution of Wisconsin, giving the legislature power to pass a general banking law, 1899 Joint Resolution 13.
Summary Senate summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 4 29 33 0 Start of 1st Session 2 31 33 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 2 31 33 0
Assembly summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Pop. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 9 1 90 100 0 Start of 1st Session 19 0 81 100 0 From Feb. 4, 1899 80 99 1 From Feb. 10, 1899 18 98 2 From Feb. 21, 1899 81 99 1 From Mar. 8, 1899 19 100 0 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 19 0 81 100 0
Sessions 1st Regular session: January 11, 1899May 4, 1899
Leaders Senate leadership President of the Senate: Jesse Stone (R) President pro tempore: Lyman W. Thayer (R)
Assembly leadership Speaker of the Assembly: George H. Ray (R)
Members Members of the Senate Members of the Senate for the Forty-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature:
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Algoma Rep. 02 Brown De Pere Rep. 03 Kenosha Randall Rep. 04 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 05 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 06 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 07 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 08 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 09 Adams, Marquette, Waushara, RichfieldRep. 10 Pierce EllsworthRep. 11 Burnett, Douglas, West SuperiorRep. 12 Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Iron, Sawyer, AshlandRep. 13 Dodge Beaver Dam Dem. 14 Outagamie AppletonRep. 15 Calumet ManitowocRep. 16 Grant LancasterRep. 17 Green, Lafayette, DarlingtonRep. 18 RiponRep. 19 Winnebago OshkoshDem. 20 Ozaukee Port WashingtonRep. 21 Portage New LondonRep. 22 JanesvilleRep. 23 Walworth ElkhornRep. 24 Buffalo, , Mondovi Rep. 25 Clark Wausau Rep. 26 Dane Madison Rep. 27 Columbia Lodi Rep. 28 Crawford, Richland, Viroqua Rep. 29 Chippewa Menomonie Rep. 30 Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Oneida, Price, Taylor, Rep. 31 Jackson, Juneau, Black River Falls Rep. 32 La Crosse La Crosse Rep. 33 Washington Rep.
Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Forty-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature:
SenateDistrict County Dist. Representative Party Residence 09 Adams Rep. Packwaukee 12 Ashland Rep. Hurley Barron Rep. Rice Lake Bayfield, Sawyer, Rep. Washburn 02 Brown 1 Rep. Green Bay 2 Dem. Morrison 24 Buffalo Rep. Fountain City 11 Burnett Rep. 15 Calumet Rep. Chilton 29 Chippewa 1 Rep. Chippewa Falls 2 Rep. Anson 25 Clark Rep. Neillsville 27 Columbia 1 Rep. Portage 2 Rep. Leeds 28 Crawford Rep. Seneca 26 Dane 1 Rep. Madison 2 Rep. Albion 3 Dem. Montrose 13 Dodge 1 Dem. Watertown 2 Dem. Beaver Dam 01 Door Rep. Sturgeon Bay 11 Douglas 1 Rep. Superior 2 Rep. Superior 29 Dunn Rep. Knapp 24 Eau Claire 1 Rep. Eau Claire 2 Rep. Bridge Creek 30 Florence, Forest, Dem. Antigo 18 Fond du Lac 1 Dem. Fond du Lac 2 Rep. Oakfield 16 Grant 1 Rep. Lancaster 2 Rep. Beetown 17 Green Rep. Monroe 18 Green Lake Rep. Berlin 16 Iowa Rep. Hollandale 31 Jackson Rep. Taylor 23 Jefferson 1 Dem. Watertown 22 2 Dem. Oakland 31 Juneau Rep. New Lisbon 03 Kenosha Rep. Wheatland 01 Kewaunee Dem. Kewaunee 32 La Crosse 1 Rep. La Crosse 2 Rep. Onalaska 17 Lafayette Rep. Darlington 30 Lincoln Dem. Medford 15 Manitowoc 1 Rep. Manitowoc 2 Dem. Two Rivers 25 Marathon 1 Rep. Spencer 2 Rep. Wausau 01 Marinette Rep. Peshtigo 05 Milwaukee 1 Rep. Milwaukee 2 Dem. Milwaukee 07 3 Rep. Milwaukee 05 4 Rep. Milwaukee 08 5 Dem. Milwaukee Dem. Milwaukee 04 6 Dem. Milwaukee 07 7 Rep. Wauwatosa 08 8 Rep. Milwaukee 06 9 Rep. Milwaukee 10 Rep. Milwaukee 08 11 Rep. Milwaukee 06 12 Rep. Milwaukee 04 13 Rep. Milwaukee 07 14 Dem. Milwaukee 04 15 Rep. Milwaukee 31 Monroe Rep. Sheldon 02 Oconto Rep. Oconto 30 Oneida, Price, Rep. Phillips 14 Outagamie 1 Rep. Appleton 2 Rep. Deer Creek 20 Ozaukee Dem. Fredonia 10 Pierce Rep. River Falls 21 Portage 1 Dem. Stevens Point 2 Rep. Almond 03 Racine 1 Rep. Racine 2 Rep. Rochester 28 Richland Rep. Richland Center 22 Rock 1 Rep. Janesville 2 Rep. Bradford 17 3 Rep. Beloit 27 Sauk 1 Rep. Baraboo 2 Rep. Spring Green 14 Shawano Rep. Shawano 20 Sheboygan 1 Rep. Sheboygan 2 Rep. Sheboygan Falls 3 Rep. Waldo 10 St. Croix Rep. New Richmond 32 Trempealeau Rep. Arcadia 28 Vernon Rep. Westby 23 Walworth 1 Rep. Elkhorn 2 Rep. Darien 33 Washington Rep. Kewaskum Waukesha 1 Rep. Mukwonago 2 Rep. Hartland 21 Waupaca 1 Rep. Fremont 2 Rep. Ogdensburg 09 Waushara Rep. Aurora Rep. Aurora 19 Winnebago 1 Dem. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Neenah 3 Rep. Oshkosh 09 Wood Dem. Dexter
Committees Senate committees Senate Committee on AgricultureWhelan, chair Senate Committee on Assessment and Collection of TaxesWhitehead, chair Senate Committee on Bills on Third ReadingEaton, chair Senate Committee on CorporationsDevos, chair Senate Committee on EducationStout, chair Senate Committee on Enrolled BillsWoodworth, chair Senate Committee on Engrossed BillsWhitman, chair Senate Committee on Federal RelationsMills, chair Senate Committee on Finance, Banks and InsuranceRoehr, chair Senate Committee on the JudiciaryLamoreux, chair Senate Committee on Legislative ExpensesReynolds, chair Senate Committee on ManufacturesAnson, chair Senate Committee on Military AffairsWelton, chair Senate Committee on Privileges and ElectionsJones, chair Senate Committee on Public HealthMailer, chair Senate Committee on Public LandsDennett, chair Senate Committee on RailroadsWithee, chair Senate Committee on Roads and BridgesThayer, chair Senate Committee on State AffairsMcGillivray, chair Senate Committee on Town and County OrganizationsRiordans, chair
Assembly committees Assembly Committee on AgricultureWylie, chair Assembly Committee on Assessment and Collection of TaxesHall, chair Assembly Committee on Bills on Third ReadingPorter, chair Assembly Committee on CitiesF. B. Keene, chair Assembly Committee on CorporationsOverbeck, chair Assembly Committee on Dairy and FoodS. D. Slade, chair Assembly Committee on EducationDresser, chair Assembly Committee on Enrolled BillsButtles, chair Assembly Committee on Engrossed BillsFogo, chair Assembly Committee on Federal RelationsSarau, chair Assembly Committee on Finance, Banks and InsuranceBuffington, chair Assembly Committee on the JudiciaryWheeler, chair Assembly Committee on Legislative ExpendituresJ. R. Farr, chair Assembly Committee on Lumber and MiningH. A. Ripley, chair Assembly Committee on ManufacturesZinn, chair Assembly Committee on Military AffairsRusk, chair Assembly Committee on Privileges and ElectionsMcDonald, chair Assembly Committee on Public Health and SanitationJohnson, chair Assembly Committee on Public ImprovementsJ. H. Wells, chair Assembly Committee on Public LandsPolley, chair Assembly Committee on RailroadsJ. W. Thomas, chair Assembly Committee on Roads and BridgesA. Jensen, chair Assembly Committee on State AffairsT. J. McGrath, chair Assembly Committee on Town and County OrganizationsJ. E. Morgan, chair Assembly Committee on Ways and MeansG. Schoenbaum, chair
Joint committees Joint Committee on Charitable and Penal InstitutionsStebbins (Sen.) & William H. Hurlbut (Asm.), co-chairs Joint Committee on ClaimsBaxter (Sen.) & John M. True (Asm.), co-chairs Joint Committee on Fish and GameGreen (Sen.) & L. C. Harvey (Asm.), co-chairs Joint Committee on PrintingMunson (Sen.) & William M. Fogo (Asm.), co-chairs
Employees Senate employees Chief Clerk: Walter Houser Journal Clerk: Henry C. Schultz Bookkeeper: Andrew Rood Engrossing Clerk: F. E. Andrews Assistant Engrossing Clerk: E. P. Bennett Enrolling Clerk: H. E. Polly Enrollment Clerk: Ed. Schaffland Proofreader: F. W. Bruce Index Clerk: J. C. McFarland Assistant Index Clerk: R. H. Clark Clerk for the Judiciary Committee: M. Schmidt Clerk for the Committee on Bills on 3rd Reading: Joseph Elliott Clerk for the Committee on Engrossed Bills: Irene Whitman Clerk for the Committee on Incorporations: M. P. Schmitt Clerk for the Committee on Claims: W. H. Burk Clerk for the Committee on State Affairs: I. S. Dunn Stenographer: G. E. Dixon Clerks: Will F. Cody A. R. Mead Document Clerks: F. W. Meinke Ben. S. Thayer Comparing Clerks: Edwin Blair M. S. Cyboruski D. Graham W. J. Hocking Sergeant-at-Arms: Charles A. Pettibone Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: A. F. Wright Postmaster: Christoph Paulus Assistant Postmaster: H. M. Knowlton Committee Room Attendants: F. F. Massart J. D. Corlett Doorkeepers: R. E. Tilden H. M. Allen Night Watch: J. G. Taylor Janitor: Ross Preston Custodian: Louis Ehlieter Custodian of the Engrossing Room: H. Roener Custodian of the Enrolling Room: Joseph S. Green Messengers: Dana L. Woodworth Harry C. May R. C. Stolhand Loyd Jones Edgar Mills M. Johnson
Assembly employees Chief Clerk: Winslow A. Nowell Assistant Chief Clerk: Frederic W. Coon Journal Clerks: Carleton H. Wells Fred Nelson Bookkeepers: Jos. B. Foster Claire Currier Stenographers: Clarence C. Fish Almeda Sturdevant Document Clerks: John H. Johnson M. L. Burdick Engrossing Clerk: Lawrence H. Berges Assistant Engrossing Clerk: Albert C. Brownell Enrolling Clerk: Charles W. Blay Assistant Enrolling Clerk: Albert J. Wolf Index Clerk: Fred H. Hartwell Assistant Index Clerk: C. E. Shaffer Stationary Clerk: Henry H. McGraw Proof Reader: John H. Frazier Comparing Clerks: Mary E. Chadwick Anna Haseltine Nellie L. Proctor Alluna Christie