57th Wisconsin Legislature

The Fifty-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 14, 1925, to June 29, 1925, in regular session, and reconvened in a special session in April 1926.[1]

57th Wisconsin Legislature
56th 58th
Wisconsin State Capitol ca.1915
Overview
Legislative bodyWisconsin Legislature
Meeting placeWisconsin State Capitol
TermJanuary 5, 1925 – January 3, 1927
ElectionNovember 4, 1924
Senate
Members33
Senate PresidentHenry Huber (R)
President pro temporeHoward Teasdale (R)
Party controlRepublican
Assembly
Members100
Assembly Speaker
Party controlRepublican
Sessions
RegularJanuary 14, 1925 – June 29, 1925
Special sessions
Apr. 1926 Spec.April 15, 1926 – April 16, 1926

This was the first session in the history of the Wisconsin Legislature with female legislators. There were three in this session: Mildred Barber, Hellen M. Brooks, and Helen F. Thompson.

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, 1924. 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, 1922.[1]

Major events

Major legislation

  • May 21, 1925: An Act ... relating to the minimum wage for women and minor employes, 1925 Act 176. Created new regulatory and permitting powers for the Wisconsin Industrial Commission to ensure adequate compensation for women and children in the workplace.
  • 1925 Joint Resolution 7: Joint Resolution ratifying an amendment to the constitution of the United States relating to child labor. Wisconsin's ratification of the Child Labor Amendment.
  • 1925 Joint Resolution 16: Joint Resolution to create section 12 of article XIII of the constitution, relating to the recall of elective public officers. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to enable the recall of public officials, initiated by public petition. This amendment was ratified at the November 1926 election.
  • 1925 Joint Resolution 24: Joint Resolution memorializing congress to provide for earlier seating of senators and representatives elect. Endorsed moving the start of congressional sessions from March to January.
  • 1925 Joint Resolution 26: Joint Resolution to amend sections 2 and 3 of article VII of the constitution, relating to the jurisdiction of the judiciary over acts of the legislature. In an attempted power grab by the Legislature, this amendment to the state constitution was proposed to require a two-thirds majority of the state supreme court to find an act of the legislature unconstitutional. This amendment was never ratified.
  • 1925 Joint Resolution 29: Joint Resolution memorializing the congress to propose an amendment to the constitution of the United States providing for the election of president and vice-president by popular vote.
  • 1925 Joint Resolution 33: Joint Resolution to amend section 21 of article IV of the constitution, relating to compensation of members of the legislature. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to update the legislator salary to $1,000 per term. This amendment was rejected by voters in 1927.
  • 1925 Joint Resolution 52: Joint Resolution to amend section 5 of article V of the constitution, relating to the compensation of the governor. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the governor's pay to be set by legislation rather than fixed in the constitution. This amendment was ratified at the November 1926 election.
  • 1925 Joint Resolution 61: Joint Resolution to amend section 1 of article VIII of the constitution, relating to taxation of forests and minerals and of forest and mineral lands. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to adjust taxation of forest land. This amendment was ratified by voters in 1927.

Party summary

Senate summary

Senate partisan composition
  Socialist: 3 seats
  Republican: 30 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem.Soc.Rep.Vacant
End of previous Legislature0329321
Start of Reg. Session0330330
Final voting share9.09%90.91%
Beginning of the next Legislature0231330

Assembly summary

Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 1 seat
  Socialist: 7 seats
  Republican: 92 seats
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem.Soc.Ind.Rep.Vacant
End of previous Legislature110088991
Start of Reg. Session170921000
From Apr. 15, 1925[note 1]91991
From Dec. 31, 1925[note 2]90982
From Jan. 3, 1926[note 3]89973
From Aug. 20, 1926[note 4]88964
Final voting share8.33%91.67%
Beginning of the next Legislature281891000

Sessions

  • Regular session: January 14, 1925 – June 29, 1925
  • April 1926 special session: April 15, 1926 – April 16, 1926

Leaders

Senate leadership

Assembly leadership

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Fifty-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:[2]

Senate partisan representation
  Socialist: 3 seats
  Republican: 30 seats
Dist.CountiesSenatorResidenceParty
01Door, Kewaunee, & ManitowocJohn E. CashmanDenmarkRep.
02Brown & OcontoJohn B. ChaseOcontoRep.
03Milwaukee (South City)Walter PolakowskiMilwaukeeSoc.
04Milwaukee (Northeast County & Northeast City)Oscar MorrisMilwaukeeRep.
05Milwaukee (Northwest City)Bernhard GettelmanMilwaukeeRep.
06Milwaukee (North-Central City)Joseph A. PadwayMilwaukeeSoc.
07Milwaukee (Southeast County & Southeast City)William F. QuickMilwaukeeSoc.
08Milwaukee (Western County)Harry DaggettWest MilwaukeeRep.
09Milwaukee (City Downtown)Irving P. MehiganMilwaukeeRep.
10Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, & St. CroixWalter H. HuntRiver FallsRep.
11Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, & WashburnMarcus A. KempSuperiorRep.
12Ashland, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, & VilasJames H. CarrollGliddenRep.
13Dodge & WashingtonHerman J. F. BilgrienIron RidgeRep.
14Outagamie & ShawanoJohn EnglundWittenbergRep.
15RockAlva GareyEdgertonRep.
16Crawford, Grant, & VernonEdward J. RoetheFennimoreRep.
17Green, Iowa, & LafayetteOlaf H. JohnsonGratiotRep.
18Fond du Lac, Green Lake & WausharaWilliam A. TitusFond du LacRep.
19Calumet & WinnebagoMerritt F. WhiteWinneconneRep.
20Ozaukee & SheboyganHerman E. BoldtSheboygan FallsRep.
21RacineMax W. HeckRacineRep.
22Kenosha & WalworthGeorge W. HullWhitewaterRep.
23Portage & WaupacaHerman J. SeversonIolaRep.
24Clark, Taylor, & WoodWilliam L. SmithNeillsvilleRep.
25Lincoln & MarathonJoseph L. BarberMarathon CityRep.
26DaneHarry SauthoffMadisonRep.
27Columbia, Richland, & SaukGeorge StaudenmayerPortageRep.
28Chippewa & Eau ClaireHerman LangeEau ClaireRep.
29Barron, Dunn, & PolkCarl B. CaspersonFredericRep.
30Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, & OneidaJames A. BarkerAntigoRep.
31Adams, Juneau, Monroe, & MarquetteHoward TeasdaleSpartaRep.
32Jackson, La Crosse, & TrempealeauV. S. KeppelHolmenRep.
33Jefferson & WaukeshaJohn C. SchumannWatertownRep.

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Fifty-Seventh Wisconsin Legislature:[2]

Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 1 seat
  Socialist: 7 seats
  Republican: 92 seats
Milwaukee County districts
Senate
Dist.
CountyDist.RepresentativePartyResidence
31Adams & MarquetteRobert B. WoodRep.Adams
12AshlandBernard F. MathiowetzRep.Ashland
29BarronFrank Roemhild (died Apr. 15, 1925)Rep.Prairie Farm
--Vacant from Apr. 15, 1925--
11BayfieldAlfred M. WardenRep.Washburn
02Brown1Malcolm A. SellersRep.Green Bay
2Gustav J. ZittlowRep.Lawrence
10Buffalo & PepinMarcellus DorwinRep.Durand
11Burnett & WashburnErick H. Johnson (died Jan. 3, 1926)Rep.
--Vacant from Jan. 3, 1926--
19CalumetCarl HillmannRep.Brillion
28ChippewaPaul H. RaihleRep.Cadott
24ClarkArlo HucksteadRep.Neillsville
27ColumbiaRobert CaldwellRep.Lodi
16CrawfordArchie J. McDowellRep.Soldiers Grove
26Dane1Herman W. Sachtjen (until Dec. 31, 1925)Rep.Madison
--Vacant from Jan. 1, 1926--
2James C. HansonRep.Deerfield
3Carl M. GrimstadRep.Mount Horeb
13Dodge1John M. DihringRep.Brownsville
2Fred E. MoulRep.Burnett
01DoorBert D. ThorpRep.Ephraim
11Douglas1C. S. GeraldsonRep.Superior
2R. Bruce JohnsonRep.Superior
29DunnJames D. MillarRep.Menomonie
28Eau ClaireC. N. SaugenRep.Pleasant Valley
30Florence, Forest, & OneidaS. J. GwidtRep.Rhinelander
18Fond du Lac1Math KoenigsRep.Fond du Lac
2Thomas DieringerRep.Campbellsport
16Grant1George SlackRep.Platteville
2Charles E. TuffleyRep.Boscobel
17GreenWilliam OlsonRep.Monroe
18Green Lake & WausharaHellen M. BrooksRep.Coloma
17IowaCharles W. HutchisonRep.Mineral Point
12Iron & VilasRichard C. TrembathRep.Hurley
32JacksonWilliam F. DettingerRep.Hixton
33JeffersonHenry W. StokesRep.Waterloo
31JuneauClinton G. PriceRep.Mauston
22Kenosha1Conrad ShearerRep.Kenosha
2Don J. VincentRep.Genoa City
01KewauneeAnton HollyRep.Carlton
32La Crosse1James D. H. PetersonRep.La Crosse
2John LarsonRep.West Salem
17LafayetteJames U. GoodmanRep.Lamont
30LangladeJames A. CodyDem.Antigo
25LincolnGeorge FrederickRep.Merrill
01Manitowoc1Robert Naumann died Aug. 20, 1926)Rep.Manitowoc
--Vacant from Aug. 20, 1926--
2Fred A. FredrichRep.Maple Grove
25Marathon1Mildred BarberRep.Marathon
2Henry EllenbeckerRep.Wausau
30MarinetteFrank L. KerstenRep.Crivitz
09Milwaukee1Thomas H. ConwayRep.Milwaukee
2Michael LaffeyRep.Milwaukee
043Frank J. WeberSoc.Milwaukee
4Thomas DuncanSoc.Milwaukee
075Julius JensenRep.Milwaukee
066B. Z. GlassRep.Milwaukee
7Alex C. RuffingSoc.Milwaukee
038Frank CieszynskiSoc.Milwaukee
069Julius KiesnerSoc.Milwaukee
0810John W. EberRep.Milwaukee
0311Olaf C. OlsenSoc.Milwaukee
0512Henry A. StaabRep.Milwaukee
0413Ernst PahlRep.Milwaukee
0714Herbert H. SmithRep.Milwaukee
0515Theodore EngelRep.Milwaukee
0816Charles B. PerryRep.Wauwatosa
0717Clarence C. KrauseRep.Lake
0418Frank L. PrescottRep.Whitefish Bay
0819George C. HinkleyRep.West Allis
0520William ColemanSoc.Milwaukee
31MonroeEarl D. HallRep.Greenfield
02OcontoSamuel P. WalshRep.Oconto
14Outagamie1Fred A. MuellerRep.Black Creek
2Anton M. MillerRep.Kaukauna
20OzaukeeFred J. BusseRep.Theinsville
10PierceTheodore SwansonRep.Ellsworth
29PolkGeorge A. NelsonRep.Milltown
23PortageBen HalversonRep.New Hope
12PriceHelen F. ThompsonRep.Park Falls
21Racine1Wallace IngallsRep.Racine
2Edward F. HilkerRep.Racine
3John H. KamperRep.Raymond
27RichlandElias R. CushmanRep.Viola
15Rock1George W. BlanchardRep.Edgerton
2Herbert MoseleyRep.Beloit
12Rusk & SawyerA. C. SchultzRep.Bruce
27SaukCarl KoenigRep.Loganville
14ShawanoAugust BeversdorfRep.Belle Plaine
20Sheboygan1Ernst A. SonnemannRep.Sheboygan
2John MentinkRep.Cedar Grove
10St. CroixEthan B. MinierRep.New Richmond
24TaylorJ. C. HoffmanRep.Medford
32TrempealeauGeorge SchmidtRep.Arcadia
16VernonAugust E. SmithRep.Viroqua
22WalworthFrank E. LawsonRep.Walworth
13WashingtonJacob LeichtRep.Germantown
33Waukesha1Evan G. DaviesRep.Wales
2W. H. EdwardsRep.Sussex
23WaupacaGeorge W. MeggersRep.Clintonville
19Winnebago1John C. Thompson Jr.Rep.Oshkosh
2Nels LarsonRep.Neenah
24WoodElwyn E. RoyceRep.Marshfield

Committees

Senate committees

  • Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture, Labor, and Industries – H. J. Severson, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Committees – A. E. Garey, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Contingent Expenditures – H. J. F. Bilgrien, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Corporations and Taxation – O. H. Johnson, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Education and Public Welfare – C. B. Casperson, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Highways – J. E. Cashman, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on the Judiciary – M. W. Heck, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on State and Local Government – J. L. Barber, chair

Assembly committees

  • Assembly Standing Committee on Agriculture – A. Holly, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and Manufactures – A. M. Warden, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent Expenditures – H. W. Stokes, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Education – G. Slack, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Elections – A. Beversdorf, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed Bills – E. E. Royce, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled Bills – T. Swanson, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and Fees – G. W. Meggers, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Fish and Game – F. E. Moul, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Highways – F. A. Frederick, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and Banking – C. G. Price, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on the Judiciary – J. W. Eber, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Labor – A. M. Miller, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Municipalities – T. Engel, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Printing – G. Zittlow, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Public Welfare – M. Koenigs, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Revision – C. Hillman, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Rules – C. G. Price, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on State Affairs – J. Goodman, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Taxation – G. W. Schmidt, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Third Reading – R. Naumann, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation – E. B. Minier, chair

Joint committees

  • Joint Standing Committee on Finance – G. Staudenmayer (Sen.) & G. A. Nelson (Asm.), co-chairs

Employees

Senate employees

  • Chief Clerk: F. W. Schoenfeld[3]
    • Assistant Chief Clerk: Charles E. Mullen
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: Charles A. Leicht
    • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Carl A. Pfeiffer
  • Postmaster: William A. Kuehl

Assembly employees

  • Chief Clerk: C. E. Shaffer[3]
    • Journal Clerk: Max H. Albertz
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: C. E. Hanson
    • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Stephen P. Saunders
  • Postmaster: Frank C. Densmore

Notes

References