71st Wisconsin Legislature
70th 72nd
Wisconsin State Capitol
Overview
Legislative bodyWisconsin Legislature
Meeting placeWisconsin State Capitol
TermJanuary 5, 1953 January 3, 1955
ElectionNovember 4, 1952
Senate
Members33
Senate PresidentGeorge M. Smith (R)
President pro temporeFrank E. Panzer (R)
Party controlRepublican
Assembly
Members100
Assembly SpeakerOra R. Rice (R)
Party controlRepublican
Sessions
RegularJanuary 14, 1953 November 6, 1953

The Seventy-First Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 14, 1953, to November 6, 1953, in regular session.[1]

During this session, the Legislature attempted to pass another redistricting plan to supersede the "Rosenberry plan" that had passed during the previous session. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ultimately struck down this second plan, finding that the state constitution did not allow for the Legislature to pass more than one redistricting plan per decennial census. The Rosenberry plan went into effect for the 1954 election.[2] This was the first time in 60 years that the court got involved in a Wisconsin redistricting dispute, but it would be the start of a pattern of state and federal courts handling Wisconsin redistricting for subsequent decades.

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 4, 1952. 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 7, 1950.[1]

Major events

  • January 5, 1953: Second inauguration of Walter J. Kohler Jr. as Governor of Wisconsin.
  • January 20, 1953: Inauguration of Dwight D. Eisenhower as 34th President of the United States.
  • March 5, 1953: Joseph Stalin, the premier of the Soviet Union, died after suffering a stroke.
  • March 18, 1953: Major League Baseball's National League approved the relocation of the Boston Braves franchise to Milwaukee.
  • March 26, 1953: Jonas Salk announced his polio vaccine.
  • April 7, 1953: Wisconsin voters approved two amendments to the state constitution:
    • Changing the apportionment rules for legislative districts to include consideration of district size alongside consideration of population.
    • Changing judicial term rules so that judicial special elections would be for a new full term, rather than for the remaining years on the previous incomplete term.
  • April 13, 1953: The Milwaukee Braves Major League Baseball team played their first game at Milwaukee County Stadium.
  • July 27, 1953: The Korean Armistice Agreement was signed, dividing Korea and effectively ending the Korean War.
  • October 6, 1953: The Wisconsin Supreme Court, in the case State ex rel. Thomson v. Zimmerman, resolved the several questions arising from the legislative redistricting process. They ruled the April 1953 constitutional amendment was nullified because the ballot language did not properly describe the proposed amendment. They further found that the state constitution did not allow the legislature to enact more than one redistricting plan per census.
  • January 1, 1954: Wisconsin chief justice Oscar M. Fritz resigned due to poor health. Justice Edward T. Fairchild immediately succeeded to the position of chief justice due to the rule of seniority. Wisconsin Governor Walter J. Kohler Jr. appointed Roland J. Steinle to succeed him as justice.
  • March 9, 1954: Journalists Edward R. Murrow and Fred W. Friendly released their 30-minute documentary on Wisconsin's controversial U.S. senator Joseph McCarthy.
  • April 7, 1954: U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered his "Domino theory" speech, warning of the spread of communism in southeast Asia.
  • May 17, 1954: The United States Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision in the case of Brown v. Board of Education, ruled that school segregation was unconstitutional.
  • July 21, 1954: The 1954 Geneva Conference dismantled French Indochina and divided Vietnam.
  • September 8, 1954: The Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty was signed, establishing the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization defensive alliance.
  • November 2, 1954: Walter J. Kohler Jr. re-elected as Governor of Wisconsin.
  • December 2, 1954: The United States Senate voted 6722 to condemn Wisconsin's U.S. senator Joseph McCarthy for "conduct that tends to bring the Senate into dishonor and disrepute."

Major legislation

  • June 6, 1953: An Act ... relating to the apportionment of assemblymen and senators, 1953 Act 242. This was a new redistricting plan to supersede the plan they passed in 1951 utilizing the language of the constitutional amendment passed in April 1953. The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down this act, along with the related constitutional amendment, in October 1953.
  • 1953 Joint Resolution 9: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to change the apportionment rules for legislative districts to add consideration for district size. This amendment was approved by voters at the April 1953 election, but was that referendum was later ruled invalid.
  • 1953 Joint Resolution 12: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to change judicial terms in cases of special elections, so that special elections would now award a full term rather than the remainder of any incomplete term. This amendment was approved by voters at the April 1953 election.

Party summary

Senate summary

Senate partisan composition
  Democratic: 7 seats
  Republican: 26 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 7 25 32 1
Start of Reg. Session 7 26 33 0
From Feb. 10, 1953[note 1] 25 32 1
From Apr. 23, 1953[note 2] 26 33 0
From Oct. 22, 1953[note 3] 25 32 1
From Dec. 26, 1953[note 4] 24 31 2
Final voting share 22.58% 77.42%
Beginning of the next Legislature 8 25 33 0

Assembly summary

Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 25 seats
  Republican: 74 seats
  Vacant: 1 seat
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem. Rep. Vacant
End of previous Legislature 23 76 99 1
Start of Reg. Session 25 75 100 0
From Apr. 23, 1953[note 5] 74 99 1
From Aug. 14, 1953[note 6] 73 98 2
From Dec. 31, 1953[note 7] 72 97 3
Final voting share 25.77% 74.23%
Beginning of the next Legislature 36 64 100 0

Sessions

  • Regular session: January 14, 1953  November 6, 1953

Leaders

Senate leadership

Assembly leadership

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Seventy-First Wisconsin Legislature:[3]

Senate partisan representation
  Democratic: 7 seats
  Republican: 26 seats
Dist. Counties Senator Residence Party
01 Door, Kewaunee, & Manitowoc Everett LaFond Two Rivers Rep.
02 Brown & Oconto Leo P. O'Brien Green Bay Rep.
03 Milwaukee (South City) Casimir Kendziorski Milwaukee Dem.
04 Milwaukee (Northeast County & Northeast City) Harry F. Franke Jr. Milwaukee Rep.
05 Milwaukee (Northwest City) Bernhard Gettelman Milwaukee Rep.
06 Milwaukee (North-Central City) William A. Schmidt Milwaukee Dem.
07 Milwaukee (Southeast County & Southeast City) Roman R. Blenski Milwaukee Dem.
08 Milwaukee (Western County) Allen Busby West Milwaukee Rep.
09 Milwaukee (City Downtown) Henry Maier Milwaukee Dem.
10 Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, & St. Croix Warren P. Knowles New Richmond Rep.
11 Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, & Washburn Arthur Lenroot Jr. Superior Rep.
12 Ashland, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, & Vilas Paul J. Rogan Ladysmith Rep.
13 Dodge & Washington Frank E. Panzer Oakfield Rep.
14 Outagamie & Shawano Gordon A. Bubolz (res. Oct. 22, 1953) Appleton Rep.
15 Rock Robert P. Robinson (died Dec, 26, 1953) Beloit Rep.
16 Crawford, Grant, & Vernon Foster B. Porter Bloomington Rep.
17 Green, Iowa, & Lafayette Melvin Olson South Wayne Rep.
18 Fond du Lac, Green Lake & Waushara Alfred Van De Zande Campbellsport Rep.
19 Calumet & Winnebago William Draheim Neenah Dem.
20 Ozaukee & Sheboygan Louis H. Prange Sheboygan Falls Rep.
21 Racine Gerald T. Flynn Racine Dem.
22 Kenosha & Walworth William Trinke Lake Geneva Rep.
23 Portage & Waupaca Oscar W. Neale Stevens Point Rep.
24 Clark, Taylor, & Wood William W. Clark Vesper Rep.
25 Lincoln & Marathon Clifford Krueger Merrill Rep.
26 Dane Gaylord Nelson Madison Dem.
27 Columbia, Richland, & Sauk Jess Miller Richland Center Rep.
28 Chippewa & Eau Claire Arthur L. Padrutt Chippewa Falls Rep.
29 Barron, Dunn, & Polk William E. Owen Menomonie Rep.
30 Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, & Oneida Philip Downing Amberg Rep.
31 Adams, Juneau, Monroe, & Marquette J. Earl Leverich Sparta Rep.
32 Jackson, La Crosse, & Trempealeau Rudolph Schlabach (res. Feb. 10, 1953) La Crosse Rep.
Raymond Bice Sr. (from Apr. 23, 1953) La Crosse Rep.
33 Jefferson & Waukesha Chester Dempsey Hartland Rep.

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Seventy-First Wisconsin Legislature:[3]

Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 25 seats
  Republican: 74 seats
  Vacant: 1 seat
Milwaukee County districts
Senate
Dist.
County Dist. Representative Party Residence
31 Adams & Marquette Louis C. Romell Rep. Adams
12 Ashland Bernard J. Gehrmann Rep. Mellen
29 Barron Charles H. Sykes Rep. Cameron
11 Bayfield Vic C. Wallin Rep. Grand View
02 Brown 1 Robert E. Lynch Dem. Green Bay
2 Harvey Larsen Rep. Denmark
10 Buffalo & Pepin Mamre H. Ward Rep. Durand
11 Burnett & Washburn Holger Rasmusen Rep. Spooner
19 Calumet Henry M. Peters Rep. Menasha
28 Chippewa Sylvia H. Raihle Rep. Chippewa Falls
24 Clark Walter E. Cook Rep. Unity
27 Columbia Everett Bidwell Rep. Portage
16 Crawford Rodney J. Satter Rep. Prairie du Chien
26 Dane 1 Floyd E. Wheeler Dem. Madison
2 Carl W. Thompson Dem. Stoughton
3 Ervin M. Bruner Dem. Verona
13 Dodge 1 Elmer L. Genzmer Rep. Mayville
2 Elmer C. Nitschke Rep. Burnett
01 Door Frank N. Graass Rep. Sturgeon Bay
11 Douglas 1 Reino A. Perala Rep. Superior
2 Lawrence M. Hagen Rep. Superior
29 Dunn G. H. Bakke Rep. Menomonie
28 Eau Claire John T. Pritchard Rep. Eau Claire
30 Florence, Forest, & Oneida Clarence W. Gilley Rep. Rhinelander
18 Fond du Lac 1 Nicholas J. Lesselyoung Rep. Fond du Lac
2 Charles A. Peterson (died Aug. 14, 1953) Rep. Rosendale
16 Grant 1 Robert S. Travis Rep. Platteville
2 William A. Loy Rep. Fennimore
17 Green Harry A. Keegan Rep. Monroe
18 Green Lake & Waushara William Belter Rep. Wautoma
17 Iowa John R. Petrus Rep. Highland
12 Iron & Vilas Arne H. Wicklund Dem. Gile
32 Jackson Keith C. Hardie Dem. Taylor
33 Jefferson Byron F. Wackett Rep. Watertown
31 Juneau Ben Tremain Rep. Hustler
22 Kenosha 1 Joseph Lourigan Dem. Kenosha
2 George Molinaro Dem. Kenosha
01 Kewaunee Julius Stangel Rep. Kewaunee
32 La Crosse 1 Raymond Bice Sr. (until Apr. 23, 1953) Rep. La Crosse
--Vacant from Apr. 23, 1953--
2 Eugene A. Toepel Rep. Medary
17 Lafayette Martin O. Monson Rep. South Wayne
30 Langlade Walter D. Cavers Rep. Antigo
25 Lincoln Emil A. Hinz Rep. Merrill
01 Manitowoc 1 John A. Norman Rep. Manitowoc
2 Frank J. LeClair Rep. Two Rivers
25 Marathon 1 Martin C. Lueck Rep. Hamburg
2 Paul A. Luedtke Rep. Wausau
30 Marinette Roy H. Sengstock Rep. Marinette
09 Milwaukee 1 Robert W. Landry Dem. Milwaukee
06 2 Michael F. O'Connell Dem. Milwaukee
08 3 Robert T. Huber Dem. West Allis
09 4 Frank E. Schaeffer Jr. Dem. Milwaukee
03 5 George Sokolowski Dem. Milwaukee
09 6 Isaac N. Coggs Dem. Milwaukee
06 7 John Schaller Dem. Milwaukee
08 8 Joseph P. Murphy Dem. Milwaukee
05 9 Eugene M. Lamb Rep. Milwaukee
07 10 Leland McParland Dem. Cudahy
03 11 Ervin J. Ryczek Dem. Milwaukee
07 12 Richard B. Nowakowski Dem. Milwaukee
04 13 Ralph Landowski Dem. Milwaukee
14 Arthur R. Godar Rep. Milwaukee
05 15 Raleigh W. Falbe Rep. Milwaukee
06 16 Edward F. Mertz Dem. Milwaukee
07 17 Howard F. Pellant Dem. Milwaukee
06 18 Charles J. Schmidt Dem. Milwaukee
05 19 Walter L. Merten Rep. Milwaukee
08 20 John E. Reilly Jr. (res. Dec. 31, 1953) Rep. Wauwatosa
31 Monroe Earl D. Hall Rep. Tomah
02 Oconto Reuben La Fave Rep. Oconto
14 Outagamie 1 Mark Catlin Jr. Rep. Appleton
2 Gerald Lorge Rep. Bear Creek
20 Ozaukee Warren A. Grady Rep. Port Washington
10 Pierce Arthur L. Peterson Rep. Prescott
29 Polk Raymond A. Peabody Rep. Milltown
23 Portage John Kostuck Dem. Stevens Point
12 Price Vincent J. Zellinger Rep. Phillips
21 Racine 1 William C. Giese Dem. Racine
2 Lawrence R. Larsen Rep. Racine
3 Robert J. Matheson Rep. Mount Pleasant
27 Richland Milford C. Kintz Rep. Richland Center
15 Rock 1 Clyde Jewett Rep. Janesville
2 Burger M. Engebretson Rep. Beloit
12 Rusk & Sawyer Willis J. Hutnik Rep. Tony
27 Sauk James R. Stone Rep. Reedsburg
14 Shawano Robert G. Marotz Rep. Shawano
20 Sheboygan 1 Fred E. Nuernberg Rep. Sheboygan
2 Henry W. Timmer Rep. Waldo
10 St. Croix William A. Bergeron Rep. Somerset
24 Taylor Fred Rust Rep. Medford
32 Trempealeau Russell Paulson Rep. Strum
16 Vernon Arthur O. Mockrud Rep. Westby
22 Walworth Ora R. Rice Rep. Delavan
13 Washington Kenneth W. Haebig Rep. West Bend
33 Waukesha 1 Alvin J. Redford Rep. Waukesha
2 Alfred R. Ludvigsen Rep. Hartland
23 Waupaca Richard E. Peterson Rep. Clintonville
19 Winnebago 1 Harvey R. Abraham Rep. Oshkosh
2 Arnold J. Cane Rep. Menasha
24 Wood Donald E. Reiland Rep. Wisconsin Rapids

Committees

Senate committees

  • Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Conservation  M. Olson, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Committees  J. Miller, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Contingent Expenditures  F. B. Porter, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Education and Public Welfare  R. P. Robinson, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Highways  J. Miller, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on the Judiciary  W. P. Knowles, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Labor and Management  G. A. Bubolz, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Legislative Procedure  F. E. Panzer, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government  B. Gettelman, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs  J. E. Leverich, chair

Assembly committees

  • Assembly Standing Committee on Agriculture  J. T. Pritchard, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and Manufacturing  E. L. Genzmer, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Conservation  R. S. Travis, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent Expenditures  E. D. Hall, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Education  M. C. Kintz, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Elections  H. W. Timmer, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed Bills  L. R. Larsen, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled Bills  R. A. Peabody, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and Fees  H. R. Abraham, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Highways  H. A. Keegan, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and Banking  B. M. Engebretson, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on the Judiciary  A. O. Mockrud, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Labor  W. E. Cook, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Municipalities  P. A. Luedtke, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Printing  C. H. Sykes, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Public Welfare  H. Rasmusen, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Revision  C. A. Peterson, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Rules  B. M. Engebretson, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on State Affairs  B. J. Gehrmann, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Taxation  E. C. Nitschke, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Third Reading  M. O. Monson, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation  J. R. Stone, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs  G. H. Bakke, chair

Joint committees

  • Joint Standing Committee on Finance  A. Lenroot (Sen.) & A. R. Ludvigsen (Asm.), co-chairs
  • Joint Standing Committee on Revisions, Repeals, and Uniform Laws  A. Busby (Sen.) & R. G. Marotz (Asm.), co-chairs

Employees

Senate employees

  • Chief Clerk: Thomas M. Donahue[4]
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: Harold Damon
    • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Anton J. Oelmiller

Assembly employees

  • Chief Clerk: Arthur L. May[4]
    • Assistant Chief Clerk: Lois H. Vethe
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: Norris J. Kellman

Notes

  1. Republican Rudolph Schlabach (32nd District) resigned.
  2. Republican Raymond Bice Sr. (32nd District) sworn in to replace Rudolph Schlabach.
  3. Republican Gordon A. Bubolz (14th District) resigned.
  4. Republican Robert P. Robinson (15th District) died.
  5. Republican Raymond Bice Sr. (La Crosse County) resigned after being elected to the state senate.
  6. Republican Charles A. Peterson (Fond du Lac County) resigned.
  7. Republican John E. Reilly Jr. (Milwaukee County) resigned to become a county judge.

References

  1. 1 2 Barish, Lawrence S.; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2021). "Historical Lists" (PDF). State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2021–2022 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 468, 471, 475, 479–480. ISBN 978-1-7333817-1-0. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  2. State ex rel. Thomson v. Zimmerman, 264 Wis. 644 (Wisconsin Supreme Court October 6, 1953).
  3. 1 2 Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1954). "Biographies". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1954 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. pp. 22–68. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Toepel, M. G.; Kuehn, Hazel L., eds. (1954). "The State Government: Legislative Branch". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1954 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Library. pp. 246–250. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
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