The Forty-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 11, 1905, to June 21, 1905, in regular session, and re-convened for a special session from December 4, 1905, through December 19, 1905.[1] 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.[2]
This session saw passage of several signature progressive reforms pushed by Governor Robert M. La Follette. Including the creation of a civil service commission to implement merit-based rules for all state government jobs, creation of new powers and commissions for railroad, public health, and tax regulation, and attempts to eliminate lobbying and corporate-funding of political campaigns. This was also the first of several sessions in which Milwaukee County sent a substantial delegation of socialist democrats to the legislature.
Senators representing even-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 even-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 8, 1904. Senators representing odd-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 4, 1902.[1]
Major events
January 24, 1905: Wisconsin governor Robert M. La Follette was elected United States Senator by the Wisconsin Legislature in joint session. La Follette, who had just been re-elected as governor, then delayed accepting the office until the end of the year, leaving Wisconsin with only one U.S. senator for most of 1905.
September 27, 1905: Albert Einstein submitted his paper "Does the Inertia of a Body Depend Upon Its Energy Content?", in which he postulated mass–energy equivalence.
January 1, 1906: Robert La Follette officially resigned as Governor of Wisconsin and began his term as U.S. senator. Lieutenant Governor James O. Davidson was sworn in as the 21st governor of Wisconsin.
May 14, 1906: The Wisconsin Supreme Court decided the case Nunnemacher v. State (129 Wis. 190) in favor of the State of Wisconsin — validating the constitutionality of the new state inheritance tax.[3]
November 3, 1906: SOS became an internationally recognized signal of distress.
November 6, 1906: James O. Davidson elected Governor of Wisconsin.
Major legislation
April 26, 1905: An Act providing for the location of a state normal school at the city of La Crosse, and making an appropriation therefor, 1905 Act 121. Origin of the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse.
May 12, 1905: An Act prescribing the duties of physicians and others relative to infectious diseases, 1905 Act 192. Mandated reporting of statistics of certain infectious diseases to state health authorities, and setting requirements for quarantining, decontamination, and public information. Also criminalized interfering with public health actions, and mandated reporting of any such interference.
May 12, 1905: An Act relating to inn-keepers and for the promotion of the public health, 1905 Act 198. Required innkeepers to deny service to people suffering from communicable diseases.
June 5, 1905: An Act regulating automobiles, auto-cars and other similar motor vehicles on the public highways within the state, 1905 Act 305. First law for registration and licensing of automobiles in the state, and establishing speed limits.
June 13, 1905: An Act to regulate railroads and other common carriers in this state, create a board of railroad commissioners, fix their salaries, define their duties, prevent the imposition of unreasonable rates, prevent unjust discriminations, insure an adequate railway service, prescribe the mode of procedure and the rules of evidence in relation thereto, prescribe penalties for violations, and making an appropriation therefor, 1905 Act 362. Abolished the statewide elected office of Railroad Commissioner and created a board of commissioners.
June 14, 1905: An Act in relation to the civil service of the state of Wisconsin and making an appropriation, 1905 Act 363. Established a civil service commission and mandated that all future government appointments must follow merit-based rules defined by the civil service commission.
June 19, 1905: An Act to amend chapter 569 of the laws of 1901 entitled "An Act to detach certain territory from the county of Chippewa and to create the county of Gates," 1905 Act 463. Renamed Gates County to Rusk County.
June 20, 1905: An Act prohibiting legislative counsel and agents from attempting to influence members of the legislature other than by appearance before the committees therof, 1905 Act 473. Attempted to ban lobbying.
June 21, 1905: An Act relating to the use of money by corporations in elections, 1905 Act 492. Attempted to ban corporations from spending money on political campaigns or candidates.
Joint Resolution granting return of confederate flags to state of Alabama, 1905 Joint Resolution 10. Returned several regimental flags captured by Wisconsin regiments during the American Civil War.
Joint Resolution providing for an amendment to section 10, article 8 of the constitution, relating to internal improvement, 1905 Joint Resolution 11. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to authorize appropriations for highway construction.
1905 Joint Resolution 12. Proposing an amendment to the state constitution to allow an income tax. This amendment had different language from a similar 1903 proposed amendment, and therefore was the first legislative passage of the amendment.
Joint Resolution to amend section 10 article 5 of the constitution relating to the approval of bills by the governor, 1905 Joint Resolution 14. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to put a time limit on gubernatorial vetos.
Joint Resolution providing for an amemlnient to section 1 of article 3 of the constitution, relating to electors, 1905 Joint Resolution 15. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to remove voting rights from non-citizens.
^ abBeck, J.D., ed. (1905). "Biographical Sketches". The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 1065–1127. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
^ abBeck, J.D., ed. (1905). "Legislative Officers and Committees". The Blue Book of the State of Wisconsin (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 565–567. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
