27th Wisconsin Legislature

The Twenty-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 14, 1874, to March 12, 1874, in regular session.

This was the first session since 1856 in which the Democratic Party held control of the Assembly.

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 4, 1873. 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 5, 1872.

Major events

 * January 5, 1874: Inauguration of William Robert Taylor as 12th governor of Wisconsin.
 * June 16, 1874: Wisconsin Supreme Court chief justice Luther S. Dixon resigned from the court. Governor William Robert Taylor immediately appointed Milwaukee city attorney Edward George Ryan to become the 5th chief justice.
 * July 1, 1874: The Sholes and Glidden typewriter was first marketed in the United States, it was principally designed by Wisconsin resident C. Latham Sholes.
 * October 9, 1874: The Treaty of Bern was signed, establishing a General Postal Union for the coordination of international mail deliveries.
 * November 25, 1874: The Greenback Party was established as a United States political party, composed mostly of farmers suffering the financial effects of the Panic of 1873.

Major legislation

 * February 26, 1874: An Act to prohibit certain provisions and conditions in contracts, 1874 Act 60. Outlawed contract terms which attempted to remove contract disputes from court jurisdiction.
 * March 7, 1874: Joint Resolution providing for biennial sessions of the legislature and compensation of members, 1874 Joint Resolution 5. Proposed an amendment to the Constitution of Wisconsin to change Assembly terms from one year to two years.  This version of the amendment would be defeated, but a later attempt at the same change would be approved in 1882.
 * March 10, 1874: An Act to regulate railroads in certain respects, 1874 Act 227. Required that railroad lines passing through populated areas must make at least one stop in that area per day.
 * March 11, 1874: An Act relating to railroads, express and telegraph companies, in the state of Wisconsin, 1874 Act 273. Implemented regulation of railroad freight and passenger rates, and established the Wisconsin Railroad Commission to enforce the new law.  Referred to in historical documents and newspapers as the "Potter Law" for its chief sponsor Robert L. D. Potter.
 * March 12, 1874: An Act in relation to railroads, 1874 Act 341. Declared that all railroad lines in the state would be common carriers, and carry each others passengers and cars without discrimination.

Sessions

 * 1st Regular session: January 14, 1874 – March 12, 1874

Senate leadership

 * President of the Senate: Charles D. Parker (D)
 * President pro tempore: John Chandler Holloway (R)

Assembly leadership

 * Speaker of the Assembly: Gabriel Bouck (D)

Members of the Senate
Members of the Senate for the Twenty-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:

Members of the Assembly
Members of the Assembly for the Twenty-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:

Senate employees

 * Chief Clerk: J. H. Waggoner
 * Assistant Clerk: Robert A. Gillett
 * Bookkeeper: T. S. Ansley
 * Engrossing Clerk: Mrs. Fannie Vilas
 * Enrolling Clerk: W. L. Abbott
 * Transcribing Clerk: John W. Brackett
 * Clerk for the Committee on Engrossed Bills: E. S. Knight
 * Clerk for the Committee on Enrolled Bills: Will Bates
 * Sergeant-at-Arms: O. U. Akin
 * Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: E. J. Cole
 * Postmaster: A. J. White
 * Assistant Postmaster: Nils Michelet
 * Doorkeeper: W. H. Bell
 * Assistant Doorkeeper: M. Lynch
 * Assistant Doorkeeper: M. H. Cram
 * Gallery Doorkeeper: J. A. Newman
 * Gallery Doorkeeper: J. K. Dunn
 * Committee Room Attendant: J. Williams
 * Night Watch: Fred Bright
 * Lt. Governors Messenger: Wendell Paine
 * Clerk's Messenger: Eddie McCurdy
 * Messengers:
 * Fred Richards
 * Daniel Fitzpatrick
 * Charlie Colvin
 * Richard Murphy
 * Marcus Moody

Assembly employees

 * Chief Clerk: George Wilbur Peck
 * Assistant Clerk: Frank Hatch
 * Bookkeeper: J. W. Ryckman
 * Engrossing Clerk: J. C. Eggers
 * Enrolling Clerk: E. C. Enos
 * Transcribing Clerk: G. J. Patton
 * Sergeant-at-Arms: Joseph Deuster
 * Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Columbus Germain
 * Postmaster: Agesilaus Wilson
 * Assistant Postmaster: A. S. Weil
 * Doorkeepers:
 * B. S. Rollin
 * Michael Kelly
 * W. Hyde
 * Night Watch: Bernard C. Wolter
 * Fireman: Felix McLindon
 * Committee Room Attendants:
 * D. S. Harkness
 * W. Hughes
 * Richard Donovan
 * Edward Flaherty
 * Porter: David Goodell
 * Speaker's Messenger: Clinton Snow
 * Chief Clerk's Messenger: Winnie Hassell
 * Sergeant-at-Arms' Messenger: Helson Bronnell
 * Messengers:
 * Charles Johnson
 * Charles Murphy
 * James Foran
 * Frank Dunn
 * Willie Pitman
 * Charlie Whitton
 * Theodore Cooper
 * Walter Reyson