The Thirty-First Annual Session of the Legislature of the State
Wisconsin, began at Madison, the capital of said state, the second
Wednesday, being the 9th day of January, 1878.

Pursuant to law, at 12 o'clock M. of said day, the Senate was
called to order by Hon. James M. Bingham, the Lieutenant-Gov-
erhor.

The roll of Senators holding over from 1877, and of the Senators
elect, as transmitted to the Senate by Hon. Hans B. Warner, Sec-
retary of State, was read by the clerk as follows:

List of Senators elected at the General Election held in the state of Wisconsin, on the 6th day of November, 1877:

I, H. B. Warner, Secretary of State of the state of Wisconsin, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a correct list of members of the Senate of the state of Wisconsin, elected at the general election held on the 6th day of November, 1877, as appears from the certificates of the several clerks of the boards of supervisors of the counties comprising the Senatorial districts named in the foregoing list, which certificates are now on file in this office.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of this office, at the Capitol, in Madison, this 9th day of January, 1878.

[Seal.]

H. B. WARNER,
Secretary of State.

The roll of Senators elect being called, the following Senators appeared at the clerk's desk and subscribed to the oath of office, which was administered by the President of the Senate, viz.:

Senators Thomas R. Hudd, George W. Swain, George H. Paul, John A. Rice, Joseph B. Treat, David E. Welch, Oscar C. Hathaway, Alonzo A. Loper, Louis Wolf, George N. Richmond, Dana R. Bailey, Matthew Anderson, Archibald Campbell, A. D. Andrews, William T. Price.

Senator B. O. Reynolds, of the 8th district, was absent.

The roll of senators being then called, the following senators responded to their names, viz.:

Senators Abert, Anderson, Andrews, Arnold, Bailey, Barden, Bones, Burrows, Campbell, Grimmer, Hathaway, Hudd, Loper, Mumbrue, Paul, Price, Rankin, Reed, Reynolds, Rice, Richardson,

Richmond, Sacket, Schneider, Scott, Swain, Torrey, Treat, Van Schaick, Welch, Williams, Wing, Wolf.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

Senator Barden moved that the Senate do now proceed to the election of chief clerk, which motion prevailed.

Senator Barden placed in nomination A. J. Turner. Senator Hudd nominated J. N. Brundage.

The roll being called, the following senators voted for A. J. Turner, viz.: Senators Andrews, Arnold, Bailey, Barden, Bones, Burrows, Campbell, Grimmer, Hathaway, Loper, Price, Richardson, Sacket, Scott, Swain, Torrey, Treat, Van Schaick, Welch, Wing

-20.

The following senators voted for J. N. Brundage, viz.: Senators Abert, Anderson, Hudd, Mumbrue, Paul, Rankin, Reed, Rice, Richmond, Schneider, Williams, Wolf-12.

A. J. Turner having received a majority of all the votes cast, was declared duly elected Chief Clerk; whereupon he took the oath of office which was administered by the President of the Senate.

Senator Barden moved that the Senate do now proceed to the election of a Sergeant-at-Arms, which motion prevailed.

Senator Barden placed in nomination L. J. Brayton. Senator Hudd placed in nomination Columbus Germain.

The roll being called the following Senators voted for L. J. Brayton, viz.: Senators Andrews, Arnold, Bailey, Barden, Bones, Burrows, Campbell, Grimmer, Hathaway, Loper, Price, Richardson, Sacket, Scott, Swain, Torrey, Treat, Van Schaick, Welch Wing— 20.

The following Senators voted for Columbus Germain, viz.: Senators Abert, Anderson, Hudd, Mumbrue, Paul, Rankin, Reed, Rice, Richmond, Schneider, Williams, Wolf-12.

L. J. Brayton having received a majority of all the votes cast, was declared duly elected Sergeant-at-Arms; whereupon he appeared at the bar of the Senate and received the oath of office, which was administered by the president of the Senate.

Senator Scott moved that the Senate do now proceed to the election of president, pro tem. of the Senate, which motion prevailed. Senator Scott placed in nomination Senator L. W Barden. Senator Hudd placed in nomination Senator Joseph Rankin.

The roll being called, the following Senators voted for L. W. Barden, viz.:

Senators Andrews, Arnoll, Bailey, Bones, Burrows, Campbell, Grimmer, Hathaway, Loper, Price, Richardson, Sacket, Scott, Swain, Torrey, Treat, Van Schaick, Welch, Wing — 19. The following Senators voted for J. Rankin, viz.:

Senators Abert, Anderson, Hudd, Mumbrue, Paul, Reed, Rice, Richmond, Schneider, Williams, Wolf-11.

Senator Barden voted for Thos. B. Scott.
Senator Rankin voted for Thomas R. Hudd.

Senator L. W. Barden having received a majority of all the votes cast, was declared duly elected president pro tem. of the Senate. Senators Scott and Rankin were appointed to conduct the President pro tem. to the chair. Upon assuming the chair, President Barden addressed the Senate as follows:

SENATORS: For this expression of your partiality, designating me to preside at our deliberations as occasion may require, allow me to thank you; and in thanking you, permit me to add, the words have a deeper and broader significance than mere formality of expression.

Representing as we do in our collective and individual capacities the interests of a great state in one branch of its legislature; coming as we do from all its parts, and representing as we do all its varied and manifold interests, we can but each feel a just pride in being thus honored. It is but natural then, that he whom you have now designated to preside occasionally at your deliberations, should feel flattered by the distinction you have conferred.

But feeling thus flattered we hope the courtesies due to all as equals will not be forgotten; nor allow partiality or partisanship to have or hold any place in the application of the rules of this Senate. May he bespeak and hope to merit by his ruling, your forbearance and generous assistance in the discharge of the duties of the place. Thus feeling and thus hoping, may we indulge the expectation that friendships may here be formed and grow with each succeeding year, reaching out to and extending possibly beyond the bounds of time, when we may have reached and passed that everclouded but not dark nor distant shore.

RESOLUTIONS.

By Senator Burrows: "Res. No. 1, S.

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Senate is hereby instructed to notify the Assembly that the Senate is now organized by the election of L. W. Barden as President pro tem., A. J. Turner as Chief Clerk, and L. J. Brayton as Sergeant-at-Arms, and is now ready to proceed to business.

The resolution was adopted.

By Senator Treat:

Res. No. 2 S.

Resolved, That the rules of the last Senate be adopted, as the rules of this Senate until otherwise ordered, excepting that the Standing Committees shall be as follows: the committe on Judiciary shail consist of five members; the committee on Railroads