The Fifty-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to in regular session.
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.
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
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Soc. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 2 4 27 32 1 Start of 1st SessionRepublican Ole G. Kinney (District 11) died before the start of the term. 0 3 29 32 1 From Feb. 27, 1923Republican Marcus A. Kemp (District 11) was sworn in to replace Ole G. Kinney. 30 33 0 From Oct. 25, 1924Republican Ben H. Mahon (District 9) died. 29 32 1 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 0 4 29 33 0
Assembly summary
Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) Total Dem. Soc. Rep. Vacant End of previous Legislature 2 6 92 100 0 Start of 1st Session 1 10 89 100 0 From Sep. 12, 1923Republican James T. Oliver (Brown County) died. 88 99 1 Final voting share Beginning of the next Legislature 1 7 92 100 0
Sessions Regular session: January 10, 1923July 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:
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door, Kewaunee, Franklin Rep. 02 Brown Green Bay 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 Milwaukee Rep. 09 Milwaukee Milwaukee Rep. 10 Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, River FallsRep. 11 Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, --Vacant until Feb. 27, 1923-- Rep. 12 Ashland, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, AshlandRep. 13 Dodge Iron RidgeRep. 14 Outagamie ShawanoRep. 15 Rock EdgertonRep. 16 Crawford, Grant, FennimoreRep. 17 Green, Iowa, WiotaRep. 18 , Fond du LacRep. 19 Calumet WinneconneRep. 20 Ozaukee SheboyganRep. 21 Racine Racine Rep. 22 Kenosha Elkhorn Rep. 23 Portage Iola Rep. 24 Clark, Taylor, Neillsville Rep. 25 Lincoln Marathon City Rep. 26 Dane Stoughton Rep. 27 Columbia, Richland, Caledonia Rep. 28 Chippewa Eau Claire Rep. 29 Barron, Dunn, Frederic Rep. 30 Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, Rhinelander Rep. 31 Adams, Juneau, Monroe, Sparta Rep. 32 Jackson, La Crosse, Galesville Rep. 33 Jefferson Rep.
Members of the Assembly Members of the Assembly for the Fifty-Sixth Wisconsin Legislature:
SenateDist. County Dist. Representative Party Residence 31 Adams Rep. Westfield 12 Ashland Rep. Ashland 29 Barron Rep. Rice Lake 11 Bayfield Rep. Washburn 02 Brown 1 Rep. Green Bay 2 Rep. Lawrence 10 Buffalo Rep. Mondovi 11 Burnett Rep. 19 Calumet Rep. Rantoul 28 Chippewa Rep. Eagle Point 24 Clark Rep. Delmar 27 Columbia Rep. Lodi 16 Crawford Rep. Soldiers Grove 26 Dane 1 Rep. Madison 2 Rep. Christiana 3 Rep. Mount Horeb 13 Dodge 1 Rep. Emmet 2 Rep. Burnett 01 Door Rep. 11 Douglas 1 Rep. Superior 2 Rep. 29 Dunn Rep. Red Cedar 28 Eau Claire Rep. Pleasant Valley 30 Florence, Forest, Rep. Argonne 18 Fond du Lac 1 Rep. 2 Rep. Campbellsport 16 Grant 1 Rep. Platteville 2 Rep. Boscobel 17 Green Rep. 18 Green Lake Rep. Berlin 17 Iowa Rep. Mineral Point 12 Iron Rep. Hurley 32 Jackson Rep. Hixton 33 Jefferson Rep. Watertown 31 Juneau Rep. Mauston 22 Kenosha 1 Rep. Kenosha 2 Rep. 01 Kewaunee Rep. Carlton 32 La Crosse 1 Rep. La Crosse 2 Rep. Barre 17 Lafayette Rep. Lamont 30 Langlade Rep. Antigo 25 Lincoln Dem. Merrill 01 Manitowoc 1 Rep. 2 Rep. Maple Grove 25 Marathon 1 Rep. Unity 2 Rep. Wausau 30 Marinette Rep. Marinette 09 Milwaukee 1 Rep. Milwaukee 2 Rep. Milwaukee 04 3 Soc. Milwaukee 4 Soc. Milwaukee 07 5 Soc. 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 Soc. Milwaukee 07 14 Soc. Milwaukee 05 15 Rep. Milwaukee 08 16 Rep. Wauwatosa 07 17 Rep. Lake 04 18 Rep. Milwaukee 08 19 Rep. West Allis 05 20 Soc. Milwaukee 31 Monroe Rep. Clifton 02 Oconto Rep. Oconto 14 Outagamie 1 Rep. Appleton 2 Rep. Kaukauna 20 Ozaukee Rep. Mequon 10 Pierce Rep. River Falls 29 Polk Rep. Milltown 23 Portage Rep. New Hope 12 Price Rep. 21 Racine 1 Rep. Racine 2 Rep. Racine 3 Rep. Raymond 27 Richland Rep. Viola 15 Rock 1 Rep. Janesville 2 Rep. Beloit 12 Rusk Rep. 27 Sauk Rep. 14 Shawano Rep. Belle Plaine 20 Sheboygan 1 Rep. Sheboygan 2 Rep. Plymouth 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. Addison 33 Waukesha 1 Rep. Waukesha 2 Rep. 23 Waupaca Rep. Clintonville 19 Winnebago 1 Rep. Oshkosh 2 Rep. Algoma 24 Wood Rep. Marshfield
Committees Senate committees Senate Standing Committee on CommitteesH. J. Severson, chair Senate Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresH. E. Roethe, chair Senate Standing Committee on CorporationsH. J. Severson, chair Senate Standing Committee on Education and Public WelfareE. T. Ridgway, chair Senate Standing Committee on HighwaysJ. E. Cashman, chair Senate Standing Committee on the JudiciaryH. Teasdale, chair Senate Standing Committee on State AffairsW. A. Titus, chair
Assembly committees Assembly Standing Committee on AgricultureJ. C. Hanson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and ManufacturesF. J. Petersen, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent ExpendituresF. E. Moul, chair Assembly Standing Committee on EducationJ. D. Millar, chair Assembly Standing Committee on ElectionsW. F. Miller, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed BillsW. F. Dettinger, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled BillsP. Ankerson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and FeesJ. Peltier, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Fish and GameN. Spoor, chair Assembly Standing Committee on HighwaysG. A. Nelson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and BankingA. C. Johnson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on the JudiciaryH. W. Sachtjen, chair Assembly Standing Committee on LaborE. H. Killian, chair Assembly Standing Committee on MunicipalitiesE. B. Minier, chair Assembly Standing Committee on PrintingA. Holly, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Public WelfareC. M. Grimstad, chair Assembly Standing Committee on RevisionG. H. Jones, chair Assembly Standing Committee on RulesH. W. Sachtjen, chair Assembly Standing Committee on State AffairsJ. Goodman, chair Assembly Standing Committee on TaxationC. E. Hanson, chair Assembly Standing Committee on Third ReadingA. G. Becker, chair Assembly Standing Committee on TransportationH. Ott, chair
Joint committees Joint Standing Committee on FinanceH. Huber (Sen.) & C. E. Tuffley (Asm.), co-chairs
Employees Senate employees Chief Clerk: F. W. Schoenfeld 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 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