38th Wisconsin Legislature

The Thirty-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature convened from to  in regular session.

Senators representing odd-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 odd-numbered senators were elected in the general election of November 2, 1886. Senators representing even-numbered districts were serving the third and fourth year of a four-year term, having been elected in the general election of November 4, 1884.

Major events

 * January 26, 1887: Philetus Sawyer was re-elected as United States Senator by the Wisconsin Legislature in joint session.
 * February 4, 1887: U.S. President Grover Cleveland signed the Interstate Commerce Act of 1887, which was designed to regulate the railroad monopolies.
 * February 8, 1887: U.S. President Grover Cleveland signed the Dawes Act, which allowed the federal government to designate private ownership within Native American tribal land.
 * April 4, 1887: Susanna M. Salter was elected mayor of Argonia, Kansas, the first female mayor in the United States.
 * July 6, 1887: King Kalākaua of Hawaii was forced to sign the 1887 Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom, which stripped the monarchy of much of its power and disenfranchised native Hawaiians, Asians, and the poor.
 * November 13, 1887: Police in London clashed with Irish nationalist protesters in an incident known as Bloody Sunday.
 * January 16, 1888: Wisconsinite William Freeman Vilas became United States Secretary of the Interior.
 * March 25, 1888: Opening day of an international Congress for Women's Rights organized by Susan B. Anthony in Washington, D.C. The congress led to formation of the International Council of Women.
 * June 15, 1888: German Emperor Frederick III died of cancer after a brief reign. He was succeeded by his son, Wilhelm II.
 * November 6, 1888: 1888 United States general election:
 * Benjamin Harrison elected President of the United States, despite losing the popular vote.
 * William D. Hoard elected Governor of Wisconsin.
 * The referendum on a proposed amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution, relating to education, was defeated.

Major legislation

 * April 12, 1887: An Act to apportion the state into senate and assembly districts, 1887 Act 461.
 * Joint Resolution agreeing to a proposed amendment to section 1, of article 10, of the constitution of the state of Wisconsin, relating to education, 1887 Joint Resolution 4. This was the required second legislative passage of the proposed amendment to the state constitution to update language relating to state education officers. The amendment was put to a referendum in the November 1888 general election, but was defeated by voters.
 * Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution, 1887 Joint Resolution 5. Proposed a new amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution to abolish the separate offices of "chief justice" and "associate justices" of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and instead define all members of the court as "justices" with the most senior justice acting as "chief justice".

Sessions

 * 1st Regular session: January 12, 1887 – April 15, 1887

Senate leadership

 * President of the Senate: George W. Ryland (R)
 * President pro tempore: Charles K. Erwin (R)

Assembly leadership

 * Speaker of the Assembly: Thomas B. Mills (R)

Members of the Senate
Members of the Senate for the Thirty-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature:

Members of the Assembly
Members of the Assembly for the Thirty-Eighth Wisconsin Legislature:

Senate committees

 * Senate Committee on Agriculture
 * Senate Committee on Assessment and Collection of Taxes
 * Senate Committee on Education
 * Senate Committee on Enrolled Bills
 * Senate Committee on Engrossed Bills
 * Senate Committee on Federal Relations
 * Senate Committee on Finance, Banks, and Insurance
 * Senate Committee on Incorporations
 * Senate Committee on the Judiciary
 * Senate Committee on Legislative Expenditures
 * Senate Committee on Manufacturing and Commerce
 * Senate Committee on Military Affairs
 * Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections
 * Senate Committee on Public Lands
 * Senate Committee on Railroads
 * Senate Committee on Roads and Bridges
 * Senate Committee on State Affairs
 * Senate Committee on Town and County Organizations

Assembly committees

 * Assembly Committee on Agriculture – G. G. Cox, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Assessment and Collection of Taxes – G. A. Dreutzer, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Bills on their Third Reading – Frank Challoner, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Cities – J. R. Brigham, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Education – J. C. Bartholf, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Engrossed Bills – C. E. Hooker, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Enrolled Bills – George Spratt, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Federal Relations – Hugh Porter, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Incorporations – Charles M. Hall, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Insurance, Banks, and Banking – G. A. Knapp, chair
 * Assembly Committee on the Judiciary – H. L. Humphrey, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Legislative Expenditures – Sam S. Miller, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Labor and Manufactures – Frank Avery, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Lumber and Mining – A. S. McDonald, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Medical Societies – H. Powell, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Militia – J. B. McCoy, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Privileges and Elections – W. B. La Selle, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Public Improvements – Samuel Sloggy, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Railroads – J. C. Reynolds, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Roads and Bridges – R. M. Day, chair
 * Assembly Committee on State Lands – C. F. Mohr, chair
 * Assembly Committee on State Affairs – W. J. McElroy, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Town and County Organization – H. C. Hetzel, chair
 * Assembly Committee on Ways and Means – R. W. Jackson, chair

Joint committees

 * Joint Committee on Charitable and Penal Institutions
 * Joint Committee on Claims
 * Joint Committee on Printing
 * Joint Committee on Apportionment of the State

Senate employees

 * Chief Clerk: Charles E. Bross
 * Assistant Clerk: J. O. Warriner
 * Bookkeeper: Oliver Munson
 * Engrossing Clerk: L. W. Jacobs
 * Enrolling Clerk: E. R. Smith
 * Transcribing Clerk: C. E. Webster
 * Proofreader: M. A. Hoyt
 * Index Clerk: H. S. Ball
 * Clerk for the Judiciary Committee: Thomas Norton
 * Clerk for the Committee on Incorporations: W. E. Webster
 * Clerk for the Committee on Claims: George B. Blair
 * Document Clerk: M. M. Conant
 * Sergeant-at-Arms: T. J. George
 * Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: W. W. Baker
 * Postmaster: H. Stone Richardson
 * Assistant Postmaster: John R. Smyth
 * Gallery Attendant: Mark W. Baker
 * Document Room Attendant: Samuel Chase
 * Committee Room Attendants:
 * H. L. Westenhaven
 * J. H. Holcomb
 * Doorkeepers:
 * S. N. Knudson
 * Nelson Darling
 * John Dishmaker
 * H. C. Fulton
 * Porter: John Malone
 * Night Watch: Marcus H. Barnum
 * Janitor: F. D. Johnson
 * Messengers:
 * Prentice Flint
 * Dexter Baker
 * Julius Seresse
 * Harvey Hulburt
 * Joseph Rupp
 * Ernest Micklist
 * Louis Hammond
 * Frank Bancroft

Assembly employees

 * Chief Clerk: Edwin Coe
 * 1st Assistant Clerk: C. A. Coon
 * 2nd Assistant Clerk: Walter L. Houser
 * Bookkeeper: J. T. Huntington
 * Engrossing Clerk: Egbert Wyman
 * Assistant Engrossing Clerk: Archie McMillan
 * Enrolling Clerk: L. J. Burlingame
 * Assistant Enrolling Clerk: Jos. Albrecht
 * Transcribing Clerk: George W. Currier
 * Assistant Transcribing Clerk: W. J. Egbert
 * Index Clerk: George P. Smith
 * Comparing Clerk: E. A. Charlton
 * Clerk for the Judiciary Committee: S. J. Morse
 * Clerk for the Committee on Enrolled Bills: G. S. Putnam
 * Clerk for the Committee on Engrossed Bills: J. M. Hayden
 * Clerk for the Committee on State Affairs: Robert W. Chapin
 * Clerk for the Committee on Third Reading: C. J. Hicks
 * Document Clerk: E. A. Hanks
 * Custodian of the Engrossing and Enrolling Rooms: J. J. Marshall
 * Sergeant-at-Arms: William A. Adamson
 * Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: M. C. Matson
 * Postmaster: C. W. McMillan
 * Assistant Postmaster: G. R. Hall
 * Doorkeepers:
 * James Sharp
 * John H. Vivian
 * G. W. Dart
 * D. F. Cleaveland
 * Gallery Attendants:
 * Ira S. Vaughn
 * H. H. Lampman
 * Committee Room Attendants:
 * V. A. Henwood
 * George Campbell
 * Document Room Attendant: C. Schneider
 * Porter: A. B. Lynn
 * Policeman: R. M. Burke
 * Flagman: N. P. Nelson
 * Night Watch: George Hanover
 * Wash Room Attendant: Lucian H. Palmer
 * Messengers:
 * Lewis Olson
 * Willie Gillet
 * M. E. Lynch
 * Gifford Best
 * Fred Willett
 * Anton Peterson
 * Christ Doehring
 * Ralph Norriss
 * Willie Shaver
 * James Whitty
 * Willie Berg
 * Willie Hughes