the bounds of public opinion, the real creative force of government and law, will we find the golden medium. The people who have clothed us with their trust and confidence, presume and rightfully presume, that we come to our labors equipped with prior thought and investigation, and that, though this be termed a deliberative assembly, yet it does not imply a deliberation that would exclude the qualities of brevity in discussion and promptness of action, qualities which in a legislator, attain the dignity of virtues. Your predecessors established a reputation for the Wisconsin senate as a body wherein harmony and courtesy reign supreme, and I doubt not you will uphold that reputation. I must beg of you, at this session, to add the virtue of charity for the foibles and failings of your humble servant, for which necessity I crave your gracious pardon. The roll of the senators holding over from 1893 and of the senators elect as transmitted to the senate by Hon. Henry Casson, secretary of state, was read by the clerk as follows: LIST OF SENATORS HOLDING OVER FROM 1893. 2d District-Robert J. McGeehan. 4th District-James C. Officer; James W. Murphy, resigned. 6th District-Oscar Altpeter. 8th District-Michael Kruszka. 10th District-D. W. Woodworth; William H. Phipps, resigned. 12th District-Neal Brown. 14th District-Dayne E. Wescott. 16th District-Charles H. Baxter. 18th District-L. W. Thayer; Samuel M. Smead, resigned. 20th District-Dennis T. Phalen. 22d District William Kennedy. 24th District-Thompson D. Weeks. 26th District-Robert M. Bashford. 28th District-Calvert Spensley. 30th District-Levi F. Martin. 32d District-Levi Withee. SAM J. SHAFER, DEPARTMENT OF STATE, MADISON, WIS., Jan. 9th, 1895. Chief Clerk of the Senate: SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith a list of the members of the senate of the state of Wisconsin, as ap pears from the certificates of the county clerks of the several counties comprising the senatorial districts named in said list. HENRY CASSON, LIST OF SENATORS ELECTED AT THE GENERAL ELECTION HELD IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN ON THE SIXTH DAY OF NOVEMBER, A. D. 1894. 1st District-DeWayne Stebbins. DEPARTMENT OF STATE.-SS. I, Henry Casson, secretary of state of the state of Wisconsin, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct list of the members of the senate of the state of Wisconsin elected at the general election held on the sixth day of November, A. D. 1894, as appears from the certificates of the county clerks of the several counties comprising the senatorial districts named in the foregoing list, which certificates are now on file in this office. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal, at the capitol, in the city of Madison, this 9th day of January, A. D. 1895. [SEAL.] HENRY CASSON, The roll of senators being called the following senators appeared at the bar of the senate and subscribed to the oath of office, which was administered by the president Senators Austin, Burke, Conger, Davis, Fisher, Mayer, McGillivray, McMullen, Mills, Officer, Peirce, Phillips, Putnam, Solliday, Stebbins, Stout, Timme, Thayer, Woodworth and Youmans. The president directed the chief clerk to call the roll. All being present except Senator Brown. Senators Altpeter, Austin, Bashford, Baxter, Burke, Conger, Davis, Fisher, Kennedy, Kruszka, Martin, Mayer, McGeehan, McGillivray, McMullen, Mills, Officer, Phalen, Peirce, Phillips, Putnam, Solliday, Spensley, Stebbins, Stout, Timme, Thayer, Weeks, Westcott, Withee, Woodworth and Youmans-32. ELECTION OF CHIEF CLERK. Senator Weeks presented the name of Walter L. Houser. Senator Bashford presented the name of Samuel J. Shafer. The following senators voted for Walter L. Houser: Senators Austin, Baxter, Conger, Davis, Fisher, McGillivray, Mills, Officer, Peirce, Phillips, Putnam, Spensley, Stebbins, Stout, Timme, Thayer, Weeks, Withee, Woodworth and Youmans-20. The following senators voted for Samuel J. Shafer: Senators Altpeter, Bashford, Burke, Kennedy, Kruszka, Martin, Mayer, McGeehan, McMullen, Phalan, Solliday nd Wescott-12. Walter L. Houser having received a majority of all votes cast was declared elected chief clerk, and appeared at the bar of the senate and took the oath of office, which was administered by the president. ELECTION OF SERGEANT-AT-ARMS: Senator Woodworth presented the name of Charles A. Pettibone. Senator Burke presented the name of J. B. Becker. The roll was called and the following senators voted for Charles A. Pettibone: Senators Austin, Baxter, Conger, Davis, Fisher, McGillivray, Mills, Officer, Peirce, Phillips, Putnam, Spensley, Stebbins, Stout, Timme, Thayer, Weeks, Withee, Woodworth and Youmans-20. The following senators voted for J. B. Becker: Senators Altpeter, Bashford, Burke, Kennedy, Kruszka, Martin, Mayer, McGeehan, McMullen, Phalen, Solliday and Wescott--12. ELECTION OF PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE. Senator Baxter presented the name of Senator Thompson D. Weeks. Senator Phalen presented the name Senator William Kennedy. The roll was called and the following senators voted for Thompson D. Weeks: Senators Austin, Baxter, Conger, Davis, Fisher, Kennedy, McGillivray, Mills, Officer, Pierce, Phillips, Putnam, Spensley, Stebbins, Stout, Timme, Thayer, Withee, Woodworth and Youmans-20. The following senators voted for Senator William Kennedy: Senators Altpeter, Bashford, Burke, Kruszka, Martin, Mayer McGeehan, McMullen, Phalen, Solliday, Weeks and Wescott-12. Senators Baxter and Kennedy were appointed a committee to escort the president pro tem. to the chair, on arriving at which he made the folllowing remarks: SENATORS: For the honor you have conferred on me in selecting me as president pro tem. of your henorable body, I sincerely thank you. Should I be called upon to preside over your deliberations, I shall do so impartially and to the best of my ability. The duties of the office are somewhat new to me and I bespeak your kind forbearance and assistance. The changing phases of human affairs are constantly pressing new questions to the front which demand our consideration. These questions must be met fairly, honestly, and decided justly, having reference to the varied interests of the state. All the ills of the world cannot be remedied by legislation, but much may be accomplished by wise and judicious laws. The tendency, however, is, it seems to me, to too much rather than to too little legislation. This constant changing of the statutes to meet some special or imaginary case is in my judgment unwise and should not be encouraged. As short a session as is consistent with needful legislation is most desirable. Let us see to it that all necessary bills are introduced early in the session, to the end that they may receive due and careful consideration without unnecessarily prolonging our sittings. Thus shall we best serve the interests of the state and of our constituents. Again I thank you. What is the further pleasure of the senate. RESOLUTIONS INTRODUCED. By Senator Spensley: Res. No. 1. S., Resolved, That the standing committees of the senate be constituted as follows: On Judiciary-Senators Spensley, chairman; Weeks, Austin, Youmans, Officer, Bashford and Phalen. On State Affairs-Senators Putnam, chairman; Baxter and Solliday. On Finance, Banks, and Insurance--Senators Davis, chair man; Stout and Phalen. On Railroads--Senators Withee, chairman; Pierce, Conger, Youmans, Phillips, Austin, Martin, Altpeter and Mc. Geehan. On Education-Senators Stout, chairman; Woodworth, and Kennedy. On Manufactures and Commerce-Senators Thayer, chairman; Withee and Wescott. On Assessment and Collection of Taxes--Senators Woodworth chairman; McGillivray and McGeehan. On Incorporations-Senators Mills, chairman; Stout and McMullen. On Town and County chairman; Mills and Burke. Organization-Senators Fisher, On Public Lands-Senators Timme, chairman; Davis and Brown. On Military Affairs-Senators Weeks, chairman; Timme and Solliday. On Enrolled Bills-Senators Phillips, chairman; Stebbins and McMullen. On Privileges and Election-Senators Stebbins, chairman; Putnam and Martin. On Legislative Expenditures - Senators McGillivary, chairman: Fisher and Altpeter. On Federal Relations Senators Austin, chairman; McGillivary and Brown. On Roads and Bridges-Senators Youmans, chairman; Thayer and Burke. On Agriculture - Senators Peirce, chairman; Thayer and Mayer. On Engrossed Bills Senators Conger, chairman; Woodworth and Kruszka. JOINT COMMITTEE. On Claims-Senators Baxter, chairman; Timme and Wescott. On Printing-Senators Peirce, chairman; Spensley and Kruszka. On Charitable and Penal Institutions-Senators Officer, chairman; Stebbins and Bashford. |