69th Wisconsin Legislature

The Sixty-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 12, 1949, to September 13, 1949, in regular session.[1]

69th Wisconsin Legislature
68th 70th
Wisconsin State Capitol ca.1915
Overview
Legislative bodyWisconsin Legislature
Meeting placeWisconsin State Capitol
TermJanuary 3, 1949 – January 1, 1951
ElectionNovember 2, 1948
Senate
Members33
Senate PresidentGeorge M. Smith (R)
President pro temporeFrank E. Panzer (R)
Party controlRepublican
Assembly
Members100
Assembly SpeakerAlex L. Nicol (R)
Party controlRepublican
Sessions
RegularJanuary 12, 1949 – September 13, 1949

This session saw the first legislative terms of Gaylord Nelson, Patrick Lucey, Ruth Bachhuber Doyle, and Robert T. Huber, all of whom would—over the course of the subsequent two decades—play important roles in the transition of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin from a permanent minority party to competitive status with the state Republican Party, by winning over many former Wisconsin Progressive Party voters.

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 2, 1948. 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 5, 1946.[1]

Major events

Major legislation

  • August 11, 1949: An Act ... relating to discontinuing the Wisconsin veterans' authority and transferring its functions to the department of veterans' affairs, a veterans' housing trust fund, veterans' housing loans, incentive grants for veterans' housing and making appropriations, 1949 Act 627. Utilized the recently ratified amendment to the state constitution to create new veterans programs.
  • 1949 Joint Resolution 1: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to enable the state to take on debt to pay for veterans' housing. This amendment was ratified by voters at the April 1949 election.
  • 1949 Joint Resolution 2: Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to repeal a portion of the constitution which had prohibited taxing land owned by the federal government. This amendment was rejected by voters at the April 1949 election. But the same amendment was later ratified in 1951.

Party summary

Senate summary

Senate partisan composition
  Democratic: 6 seats
  Republican: 26 seats
  Vacant: 1 seat
Party
(Shading indicates majority caucus)
Total
Dem.Prog.Rep.Vacant
End of previous Legislature5127330
Start of Reg. Session[note 1]4027312
From Mar. 4, 1949[note 2]26312
From Apr. 5, 1949[note 3]6321
Final voting share18.75%81.25%
Beginning of the next Legislature7026330

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 Legislature1287981
Start of Reg. Session26741000
From Apr. 5, 1949[note 4]25991
From Jul. 23, 1949[note 5]73982
From Dec. 9, 1949[note 6]24973
From Apr. 13, 1950[note 7]72964
Final voting share25%75%
Beginning of the next Legislature24761000

Sessions

  • Regular session: January 12, 1949 – September 13, 1949

Leaders

Senate leadership

Assembly leadership

Members

Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Sixty-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature:[2]

Senate partisan representation
  Democratic: 6 seats
  Republican: 25 seats
  Vacant: 1 seat
Dist.CountiesSenatorResidenceParty
01Door, Kewaunee, & ManitowocEverett LaFondTwo RiversRep.
02Brown & OcontoFred F. KaftanGreen BayRep.
03Milwaukee (South City)--Vacant until Apr. 5, 1949--
Casimir KendziorskiMilwaukeeDem.
04Milwaukee (Northeast County & Northeast City)George A. MayerMilwaukeeRep.
05Milwaukee (Northwest City)Bernhard GettelmanMilwaukeeRep.
06Milwaukee (North-Central City)William A. SchmidtMilwaukeeDem.
07Milwaukee (Southeast County & Southeast City)Roman R. BlenskiMilwaukeeDem.
08Milwaukee (Western County)Allen BusbyWest MilwaukeeRep.
09Milwaukee (City Downtown)Robert E. TehanMilwaukeeDem.
10Buffalo, Pepin, Pierce, & St. CroixWarren P. KnowlesNew RichmondRep.
11Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, & WashburnArthur Lenroot Jr.SuperiorRep.
12Ashland, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, & VilasClayton HicksPhillipsRep.
13Dodge & WashingtonFrank E. PanzerOakfieldRep.
14Outagamie & ShawanoGordon A. BubolzAppletonRep.
15RockRobert P. RobinsonBeloitRep.
16Crawford, Grant, & VernonFoster B. PorterBloomingtonRep.
17Green, Iowa, & LafayetteMelvin OlsonSouth WayneRep.
18Fond du Lac, Green Lake & WausharaAlfred Van De ZandeCampbellsportRep.
19Calumet & WinnebagoTaylor G. BrownOshkoshRep.
20Ozaukee & SheboyganGustave W. BuchenSheboyganRep.
21RacineEdward F. Hilker (died Mar. 4, 1949)RacineRep.
--Vacant from Mar. 4, 1949--
22Kenosha & WalworthWilliam TrinkeLake GenevaRep.
23Portage & WaupacaOscar W. NealeStevens PointRep.
24Clark, Taylor, & WoodMelvin Laird Jr.MarshfieldRep.
25Lincoln & MarathonClifford KruegerMerrillRep.
26DaneGaylord NelsonMadisonDem.
27Columbia, Richland, & SaukJess MillerRichland CenterRep.
28Chippewa & Eau ClaireArthur L. PadruttChippewa FallsRep.
29Barron, Dunn, & Polk--Vacant until Apr. 5, 1949--
John E. OlsonChetekDem.
30Florence, Forest, Langlade, Marinette, & OneidaPhilip DowningAmbergRep.
31Adams, Juneau, Monroe, & MarquetteJ. Earl LeverichSpartaRep.
32Jackson, La Crosse, & TrempealeauRudolph SchlabachLa CrosseRep.
33Jefferson & WaukeshaChester DempseyHartlandRep.

Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Sixty-Ninth Wisconsin Legislature:[2]

Assembly partisan composition
  Democratic: 25 seats
  Republican: 74 seats
  Vacant: 1 seat
Milwaukee County districts
Senate
Dist.
CountyDist.RepresentativePartyResidence
31Adams & MarquetteLouis C. RomellRep.Adams
12AshlandBernard J. GehrmannRep.Mellen
29BarronCharles H. SykesRep.Cameron
11BayfieldSamuel E. SquiresRep.Mason
02Brown1Robert E. LynchDem.Green Bay
2William J. DuffyDem.Wrightstown
10Buffalo & PepinEdmund HittRep.Alma
11Burnett & WashburnHolger RasmusenRep.Spooner
19CalumetHenry M. PetersRep.Menasha
28ChippewaSylvia H. RaihleRep.Chippewa Falls
24ClarkArthur E. StadlerRep.Owen
27ColumbiaArnie F. BettsRep.Lodi
16CrawfordPatrick LuceyDem.Ferryville
26Dane1Ruth Bachhuber DoyleDem.Madison
2John M. BlaskaDem.Marshall
3Hermann EisnerDem.Cross Plains
13Dodge1Elmer L. GenzmerRep.Mayville
2Elmer C. NitschkeRep.Burnett
01DoorHallie H. RoweRep.Sturgeon Bay
11Douglas1Byron C. OstbyRep.Superior
2Charles E. NelsonRep.Superior
29DunnEarl W. HansonRep.Elk Mound
28Eau ClaireJohn T. PritchardRep.Eau Claire
30Florence, Forest, & OneidaClarence W. GilleyRep.Rhinelander
18Fond du Lac1Myrton H. DuelRep.Fond du Lac
2Charles A. PetersonRep.Rosendale
16Grant1Robert S. TravisRep.Platteville
2Hugh A. HarperRep.Lancaster
17GreenHarry A. KeeganRep.Monroe
18Green Lake & WausharaHalbert W. BrooksRep.Green Lake
17IowaRobert McCutchinRep.Arena
12Iron & VilasWilliam R. YeschekRep.Lac du Flambeau
32JacksonCasper D. WallerRep.Black River Falls
33JeffersonTheodore S. JonesRep.Lake Mills
31JuneauBen TremainRep.Hustler
22Kenosha1Frederick PfennigRep.Kenosha
2George MolinaroDem.Kenosha
01KewauneeJulius StangelRep.Kewaunee
32La Crosse1Raymond Bice Sr.Rep.La Crosse
2Harry W. SchillingRep.Onalaska
17LafayetteMartin O. MonsonRep.South Wayne
30LangladeClair FinchRep.Antigo
25LincolnEmil A. HinzRep.Merrill
01Manitowoc1John A. NormanRep.Manitowoc
2Adolph StroufDem.Two Rivers
25Marathon1Martin C. LueckRep.Hamburg
2Paul A. LuedtkeRep.Wausau
30MarinetteRoy H. SengstockRep.Marinette
09Milwaukee1Thomas A. HickeyDem.Milwaukee
062Michael F. O'ConnellDem.Milwaukee
083Robert T. HuberDem.West Allis
094Frank E. Schaeffer Jr.Dem.Milwaukee
035Casimir Kendziorski (until Apr. 5, 1949)Dem.Milwaukee
--Vacant from Apr. 5, 1949--
096Le Roy SimmonsDem.Milwaukee
067John SchallerDem.Milwaukee
088Albert HammondDem.Milwaukee
059Eugene M. LambRep.Milwaukee
0710Leland McParlandDem.Cudahy
0311Ervin J. RyczekDem.Milwaukee
0712William Banach (res. Dec. 9, 1949)Dem.Milwaukee
0413Ralph LandowskiDem.Milwaukee
14John D. Heimick (died Jul. 23, 1949)Rep.Milwaukee
0515Raleigh W. FalbeRep.Milwaukee
0616Edward F. MertzDem.Milwaukee
0717Martin F. HowardRep.Milwaukee
0618Charles J. SchmidtDem.Milwaukee
0519Charles F. WestfahlRep.Milwaukee
0820Milton F. BurmasterRep.Wauwatosa
31MonroeAlex L. NicolRep.Sparta
02OcontoJohn E. YoungsRep.Oconto
14Outagamie1Mark Catlin Jr.Rep.Appleton
2William M. RohanRep.Kaukauna
20OzaukeeRalph ZaunRep.Grafton
10PierceSelmer W. GundersonRep.Spring Valley
29PolkRaymond A. PeabodyRep.Milltown
23PortageJohn KostuckDem.Stevens Point
12PriceVincent J. ZellingerRep.Phillips
21Racine1Harold GadeDem.Racine
2Thomas C. TaylorDem.Racine
3Glenn W. Birkett (died Apr. 13, 1950)Rep.Burlington
27RichlandVernon W. ThomsonRep.Richland Center
15Rock1Edward GrassmanRep.Edgerton
2Burger M. EngebretsonRep.Beloit
12Rusk & SawyerPaul J. RoganRep.Ladysmith
27SaukJames R. StoneRep.Baraboo
14ShawanoRobert G. MarotzRep.Shawano
20Sheboygan1John Schneider Jr.Dem.Sheboygan
2Henry W. TimmerRep.Waldo
10St. CroixWilliam A. BergeronRep.Somerset
24TaylorNels AndersenRep.Gilman
32TrempealeauGuilford M. WileyRep.Galesville
16VernonArthur O. MockrudRep.Westby
22WalworthOra R. RiceRep.Delavan
13WashingtonTheodore HoltebeckRep.West Bend
33Waukesha1Alvin J. RedfordRep.Waukesha
2Alfred R. LudvigsenRep.Hartland
23WaupacaJulius SpearbrakerRep.Clintonville
19Winnebago1Harvey R. AbrahamRep.Oshkosh
2Richard J. SteffensRep.Menasha
24WoodWilliam W. ClarkRep.Vesper

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 – B. Gettelman, 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 – G. W. Buchen, 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 – R. Schlabach, chair
  • Senate Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs – M. Laird, chair

Assembly committees

  • Assembly Standing Committee on Agriculture – O. R. Rice, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and Manufacturing – E. A. Hinz, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Conservation – R. S. Travis, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent Expenditures – B. Tremain, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Education – W. W. Clark, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Elections – H. W. Timmer, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed Bills – W. M. Rohan, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled Bills – T. S. Jones, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and Fees – H. R. Abraham, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Highways – H. A. Harper, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and Banking – F. Pfennig, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on the Judiciary – V. W. Thomson, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Labor – E. L. Genzmer, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Municipalities – P. A. Luedtke, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Printing – A. F. Betts, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Public Welfare – E. W. Hanson, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Revision – E. W. Hanson, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Rules – J. Spearbraker, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on State Affairs – B. J. Gehrmann, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Taxation – M. F. Burmaster, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Third Reading – C. E. Nelson, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation – R. Bice, chair
  • Assembly Standing Committee on Veterans and Military Affairs – M. Catlin, chair

Joint committees

  • Joint Standing Committee on Finance – F. B. Porter (Sen.) & A. R. Ludvigsen (Asm.), co-chairs
  • Joint Standing Committee on Revisions, Repeals, and Uniform Laws – A. Busby (Sen.) & C. Finch (Asm.), co-chairs
  • Joint Legislative Council – M. Laird (Sen.), chair

Employees

Senate employees

  • Chief Clerk: Thomas M. Donahue[3]
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: Harold Damon
    • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Edward R. Stoker

Assembly employees

  • Chief Clerk: Arthur L. May[3]
    • Assistant Chief Clerk: Robert H. Boyson
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: Norris J. Kellman
    • Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Thomas A. Austin

Notes

References