- Source: 31st Wisconsin Legislature
The Thirty-First Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 9, 1878, to March 21, 1878, in regular session, and later re-convened from June 4 to June 7, 1878, in special session, to complete the revision of the statutes. This was the first extra session of the Wisconsin Legislature since 1862.
This was the first and only session of the Legislature to have an Assembly speaker from the Greenback Party—Augustus Barrows. Despite the Greenbackers holding only 13% of the Assembly seats, neither major party had enough seats to form a majority without Greenback support. The Democrats thus formed a coalition with the Greenbacks for the 31st Legislature with Barrows acting as speaker.
Senators representing even-numbered districts were newly elected for this session and were serving the first year of a two-year term. Assembly members were elected to a one-year term. Assembly members and even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 6, 1877. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the second year of their two-year term, having been elected in the general election held on November 7, 1876.
Major events
January 7, 1878: Inauguration of William E. Smith as the 14th Governor of Wisconsin.
February 7, 1878: Pope Pius IX died at the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City.
February 28, 1878: The Bland–Allison Act became law in the United States, with the United States Congress overriding the veto of President Rutherford B. Hayes. The act restored the monetary status of silver coins, a key priority of the Free silver movement.
March 3, 1878: Cardinal Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci was crowned Pope Leo XIII.
March 3, 1878: The Treaty of San Stefano was signed, ending the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 and establishing an independent Principality of Bulgaria.
April 29, 1878: U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes signed the National Quarantine Act of 1878, which created regulations to prevent the introduction of contagious diseases into the United States. The law also established the Marine Hospital Service, the forerunner of the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and the National Institutes of Health.
June 18, 1878: U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes signed the Posse Comitatus Act, which limited the power of the President to use the United States military to enforce domestic policies.
July 13, 1878: The Treaty of Berlin (1878) was signed, making Serbia, Montenegro, and Romania completely independent from the Ottoman Empire, confirming the independence of Bulgaria, transferring Cyprus to British control, and allowing Austria-Hungary to garrison the Bosnia Vilayet. The treaty settled regional issues left open by the Treaty of San Stefano.
October 1, 1878: The United States Supreme Court decided the case Ex parte Jackson, extending Fourth Amendment protections to private letters and packages.
Major legislation
February 12, 1878: Joint Resolution relating to the remonetization of silver, 1878 Joint Resolution 3. Endorsed congressional action to restore the monetary value of silver currency, and resume minting silver coins.
March 12, 1878: An Act to amend sections thirty-one and thirty-two of chapter fifty-six, of the general laws of 1870, entitled "An act to provide for the incorporation and government of fire and inland navigation insurance companies." 1878 Act 214. Created the appointed position of state insurance commissioner.
March 21, 1878: An Act to authorize the granting of state certificates to graduates of the state university, 1878 Act 333. Created a certification process to enable any graduate of the University of Wisconsin to become authorized to work as a teacher at any public school in Wisconsin.
Party summary
= Senate summary
== Assembly summary
=Sessions
1st Regular session: January 9, 1878 – March 21, 1878
June Special session: June 4, 1878 – June 7, 1878
Leaders
= Senate leadership
=President of the Senate: James M. Bingham (R)
President pro tempore: Levi W. Barden (R)
= Assembly leadership
=Speaker of the Assembly: Augustus Barrows (GB)
Members
= Members of the Senate
=Members of the Senate for the Thirty-First Wisconsin Legislature:
= Members of the Assembly
=Members of the Assembly for the Thirty-First Wisconsin Legislature:
Employees
= Senate employees
=Chief Clerk: Andrew Jackson Turner until February 7, 1878, then Charles E. Bross
Assistant Clerk: F. J. Stockwell
Bookkeeper: I. F. Stickle
Engrossing Clerk: J. W. Bates
Enrolling Clerk: John W. DeGroff
Sergeant-at-Arms: L. J. Brayton
Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: D. D. Polleys
Postmaster: Fred Badger
Assistant Postmaster: J. A. Neavill
Gallery Attendant: George M. Laing
Assistant Attendant: John Beck
Committee Room Attendants:
William Reese
W. A. Mills
D. H. Pulcifer
Doorkeepers:
R. B. Winsor
W. F. Bingman
G. W. McDougal
L. L. Gunderson
Porter: John Benson
Night Watch: C. L. Smith
Messengers:
Charles Marsden
Welcome Smith
George Buehner
E. Hubbell
Harry Meeker
Louis Loper
Prentiss S. Brannan
Eddie Torrey
P. L. Jerdee
Lucien Pickarts
Thomas Lucas
= Assembly employees
=Chief Clerk: Jabez R. Hunter
Assistant Clerk: Sam Ryan Jr.
Bookkeeper: Roger C. Spooner
Engrossing Clerk: Michael Bohan
Asst. Engrossing Clerk: George Cox
Enrolling Clerk: H. G. Fischbein
Asst. Enrolling Clerk: John Meehan
Proof Reader: Michael Walsh
Sergeant-at-Arms: Anton Klaus
Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: M. J. Egan
Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Hugh Lewis
Postmaster: D. W. C. Wilson
Assistant Postmaster: George W. Dart
Assistant Postmaster: Anthony G. Froner
Doorkeepers:
J. A. Allen
Thomas Hobbins
O. H. Hestehurn
N. Sullivan
Committee Room Attendants:
Ed. Flaherty
Anton Klaus Jr.
Richard Donevan
William Mahoney
S. S. Hills
Ed. Jannush
Gallery Attendants:
John Kane
A. Tideman
Porters:
B. Coyne
Henry Ebert
Night Watch: F. B. Brundage
Night Watch: Francis Fitzgerald
Fireman: George Burns
Janitor: Peter Labonde
Wash Room Attendant: James Whitty
Messengers:
Clinton Snow
Charles Whitton
Harry Cutler
Willie Krueger
Fred T. Lee
Jas. Foran
Herman Schum
George Gewecke
Robert Gilroy
Marcus L. Moody
William Burnett
John Roberts
Edward Cavanaugh
Charles Klaus
References
External links
1878: Related Documents from Wisconsin Legislature
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