# 70th Wisconsin Legislature

The Seventieth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 10, 1951, to June 14, 1951, 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 7, 1950. 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 2, 1948.
The governor of Wisconsin during this entire term was Republican Walter J. Kohler Jr., of Sheboygan County, serving a two-year term, having won election in the 1950 Wisconsin gubernatorial election.

## Major events

* January 1, 1951: Inauguration of Walter J. Kohler Jr. as the 33rd Governor of Wisconsin.
* February 27, 1951: The Twenty-second Amendment to the United States Constitution came into force, establishing the two term limit for U.S. presidents.
* April 3, 1951: Wisconsin voters ratified two amendments to the state constitution:
** Repealing the prohibition on taxing federal lands.
** Setting an 8% combined municipal debt limit for city and school purposes.
* April 11, 1951: Amidst disagreements over strategy in the Korean War, U.S. president Harry Truman relieved General Douglas MacArthur from command.
* May 8, 1951: The first thermonuclear weapon was tested by the United States at Enewetak Atoll.
* July 28, 1951: The Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees was signed.
* August 13, 1951: Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Henry P. Hughes resigned.
* September 1, 1951:
** Wisconsin Governor Walter J. Kohler appointed George R. Currie to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, to succeed Henry P. Hughes.
** The United States, Australia, and New Zealand signed the ANZUS mutual defense pact.
* September 8, 1951: The United States and Japan signed the Security Treaty between the United States and Japan, allowing for a continuation of United States military forces basing in Japan.
* February 6, 1952: King George VI of the United Kingdom died and was immediately succeeded by his daughter, who was later crowned as Queen Elizabeth II.
* November 4, 1952: 1952 United States general election:
** Dwight D. Eisenhower elected President of the United States.
** Walter J. Kohler Jr. re-elected Governor of Wisconsin.
** Joseph McCarthy re-elected United States senator from Wisconsin.
** Wisconsin voters rejected a non-binding referendum on changes to constitutional guidelines for redistricting. Holding the referendum was part of a compromise which enabled the passage of the Rosenberry redistricting plan.

## Major legislation

* April 12, 1951: An Act ... relating to the inclusion of public employes under the Federal Old Age and Survivors Insurance System, and making an appropriation, 1951 Act 60. Created the Wisconsin Public Employees Social Security Fund, and made Wisconsin the first state to allow some state and local employees to be covered by Social Security.
* July 10, 1951: An Act ... relating to civil defense, 1951 Act 443. Established the state office of civil defense.
* August 17, 1951: An Act ... relating to the apportionment of assemblymen and senators, 1951 Act 728. This was the first full legislative redistricting of Wisconsin since 1921. This plan was the product of a nonpartisan redistricting commission, popularly referred to as the "Rosenberry Commission" for its chairman, the former Wisconsin Supreme Court chief justice Marvin B. Rosenberry. Because of a compromise, implementation of the plan was delayed until the 1954 election to allow the consideration of a constitutional amendment which would have altered redistricting rules.

## Party summary
### Senate summary

| | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |
| | Dem. | Rep. | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous Legislature | 6 | 26 | 32 | 1 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 7 | 26 | 33 | 0 |
| From Dec. 3, 1951 | 7 | 25 | 32 | 1 |
| Final voting share | 21.88% | 78.13% | | |
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 7 | 26 | 33 | 0 |

### Assembly summary

| | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) | Total | |
| | Dem. | Rep. | Total | Vacant |
| End of previous Legislature | 24 | 72 | 96 | 4 |
| Start of Reg. Session | 24 | 76 | 100 | 0 |
| From Mar. 24, 1951 | 23 | 76 | 99 | 1 |
| Final voting share | 23.23% | 76.77% | | |
| Beginning of the next Legislature | 25 | 75 | 100 | 0 |

## Sessions

* Regular session: January 10, 1951 – June 14, 1951

## Leaders
### Senate leadership

* President of the Senate: George M. Smith (R)
* President pro tempore: Frank E. Panzer (R–Oakfield)
* Majority leader: Warren P. Knowles (R–New Richmond)
* Minority leader: Gaylord Nelson (D–Madison)

### Assembly leadership

* Speaker of the Assembly: Ora R. Rice (R–Delavan)
* Majority leader: Arthur O. Mockrud (R–Westby)
* Minority leader: George Molinaro (D–Kenosha)

## Members
### Members of the Senate

Members of the Senate for the Seventieth Wisconsin Legislature:
| Dist. | Counties | Senator | Residence | Party |
| 01 | Door, Kewaunee, & Manitowoc | Everett LaFond | Two Rivers | Rep. |
| 02 | Brown & Oconto | Fred F. Kaftan | Green Bay | Rep. |
| 03 | Milwaukee (South City) | Casimir Kendziorski | Milwaukee | Dem. |
| 04 | Milwaukee (Northeast County & Northeast City) | George A. Mayer | 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 | Clayton Hicks | Phillips | Rep. |
| 13 | Dodge & Washington | Frank E. Panzer | Oakfield | Rep. |
| 14 | Outagamie & Shawano | Gordon A. Bubolz | Appleton | Rep. |
| 15 | Rock | Robert P. Robinson | 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 | Gustave W. Buchen (died Dec. 3, 1951) | Sheboygan | 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 | Melvin Laird Jr. | Marshfield | 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 | La Crosse | Rep. |
| 33 | Jefferson & Waukesha | Chester Dempsey | Hartland | Rep. |

### Members of the Assembly

Members of the Assembly for the Seventieth Wisconsin Legislature:
| Senate Dist. | County | Dist. | Representative | Party | Residence |
| 31 | Adams & Marquette | Adams & Marquette | Louis C. Romell | Rep. | Adams |
| 12 | Ashland | Ashland | Bernard J. Gehrmann | Rep. | Mellen |
| 29 | Barron | Barron | Charles H. Sykes | Rep. | Cameron |
| 11 | Bayfield | Bayfield | Vic C. Wallin | Rep. | Grand View |
| 02 | Brown | 1 | Robert E. Lynch | Dem. | Green Bay |
| 02 | Brown | 2 | Harvey Larsen | Rep. | Denmark |
| 10 | Buffalo & Pepin | Buffalo & Pepin | Mamre H. Ward | Rep. | Durand |
| 11 | Burnett & Washburn | Burnett & Washburn | Holger Rasmusen | Rep. | Spooner |
| 19 | Calumet | Calumet | Henry M. Peters | Rep. | Menasha |
| 28 | Chippewa | Chippewa | Sylvia H. Raihle | Rep. | Chippewa Falls |
| 24 | Clark | Clark | Walter E. Cook | Rep. | Unity |
| 27 | Columbia | Columbia | Arnie F. Betts | Rep. | Lodi |
| 16 | Crawford | Crawford | Rodney J. Satter | Rep. | Prairie du Chien |
| 26 | Dane | 1 | Ruth Bachhuber Doyle | Dem. | Madison |
| 26 | Dane | 2 | William Proxmire | Dem. | Madison |
| 26 | Dane | 3 | Hermann Eisner | Dem. | Cross Plains |
| 13 | Dodge | 1 | Elmer L. Genzmer | Rep. | Mayville |
| 13 | Dodge | 2 | Elmer C. Nitschke | Rep. | Burnett |
| 01 | Door | Door | Frank N. Graass | Rep. | Sturgeon Bay |
| 11 | Douglas | 1 | Byron C. Ostby | Rep. | Superior |
| 11 | Douglas | 2 | Charles E. Nelson | Rep. | Superior |
| 29 | Dunn | Dunn | G. H. Bakke | Rep. | Menomonie |
| 28 | Eau Claire | Eau Claire | John T. Pritchard | Rep. | Eau Claire |
| 30 | Florence, Forest, & Oneida | Florence, Forest, & Oneida | Clarence W. Gilley | Rep. | Rhinelander |
| 18 | Fond du Lac | 1 | Nicholas J. Lesselyoung | Rep. | Fond du Lac |
| 18 | Fond du Lac | 2 | Charles A. Peterson | Rep. | Rosendale |
| 16 | Grant | 1 | Robert S. Travis | Rep. | Platteville |
| 16 | Grant | 2 | Hugh A. Harper | Rep. | Lancaster |
| 17 | Green | Green | Harry A. Keegan | Rep. | Monroe |
| 18 | Green Lake & Waushara | Green Lake & Waushara | Halbert W. Brooks | Rep. | Green Lake |
| 17 | Iowa | Iowa | Robert McCutchin | Rep. | Arena |
| 12 | Iron & Vilas | Iron & Vilas | Arne H. Wicklund | Dem. | Gile |
| 32 | Jackson | Jackson | Larry D. Gilbertson | Rep. | Black River Falls |
| 33 | Jefferson | Jefferson | Theodore S. Jones | Rep. | Lake Mills |
| 31 | Juneau | Juneau | Ben Tremain | Rep. | Hustler |
| 22 | Kenosha | 1 | Joseph Lourigan | Dem. | Kenosha |
| 22 | Kenosha | 2 | George Molinaro | Dem. | Kenosha |
| 01 | Kewaunee | Kewaunee | Julius Stangel | Rep. | Kewaunee |
| 32 | La Crosse | 1 | Raymond Bice Sr. | Rep. | La Crosse |
| 32 | La Crosse | 2 | Harry W. Schilling | Rep. | Onalaska |
| 17 | Lafayette | Lafayette | Martin O. Monson | Rep. | South Wayne |
| 30 | Langlade | Langlade | Walter D. Cavers | Rep. | Antigo |
| 25 | Lincoln | Lincoln | Emil A. Hinz | Rep. | Merrill |
| 01 | Manitowoc | 1 | John A. Norman | Rep. | Manitowoc |
| 01 | Manitowoc | 2 | Frank J. LeClair | Rep. | Two Rivers |
| 25 | Marathon | 1 | Martin C. Lueck | Rep. | Hamburg |
| 25 | Marathon | 2 | Paul A. Luedtke | Rep. | Wausau |
| 30 | Marinette | Marinette | Roy H. Sengstock | Rep. | Marinette |
| 09 | Milwaukee | 1 | Robert W. Landry | Dem. | Milwaukee |
| 06 | Milwaukee | 2 | Michael F. O'Connell | Dem. | Milwaukee |
| 08 | Milwaukee | 3 | Robert T. Huber | Dem. | West Allis |
| 09 | Milwaukee | 4 | Frank E. Schaeffer Jr. | Dem. | Milwaukee |
| 03 | Milwaukee | 5 | George Sokolowski | Dem. | Milwaukee |
| 09 | Milwaukee | 6 | Le Roy Simmons | Dem. | Milwaukee |
| 06 | Milwaukee | 7 | John Schaller | Dem. | Milwaukee |
| 08 | Milwaukee | 8 | Joseph P. Murphy | Dem. | Milwaukee |
| 05 | Milwaukee | 9 | Eugene M. Lamb | Rep. | Milwaukee |
| 07 | Milwaukee | 10 | Leland McParland | Dem. | Cudahy |
| 03 | Milwaukee | 11 | Ervin J. Ryczek | Dem. | Milwaukee |
| 07 | Milwaukee | 12 | William Banach (died Mar. 24, 1951) | Dem. | Milwaukee |
| --Vacant from Mar. 24, 1951-- |||
| 04 | Milwaukee | 13 | Ralph Landowski | Dem. | Milwaukee |
| 04 | Milwaukee | 14 | Harry F. Franke Jr. | Rep. | Milwaukee |
| 05 | Milwaukee | 15 | Raleigh W. Falbe | Rep. | Milwaukee |
| 06 | Milwaukee | 16 | Edward F. Mertz | Dem. | Milwaukee |
| 07 | Milwaukee | 17 | Martin F. Howard | Rep. | Milwaukee |
| 06 | Milwaukee | 18 | Charles J. Schmidt | Dem. | Milwaukee |
| 05 | Milwaukee | 19 | Walter L. Merten | Rep. | Milwaukee |
| 08 | Milwaukee | 20 | John E. Reilly Jr. | Rep. | Wauwatosa |
| 31 | Monroe | Monroe | Earl D. Hall | Rep. | Tomah |
| 02 | Oconto | Oconto | Reuben La Fave | Rep. | Oconto |
| 14 | Outagamie | 1 | Walter Melchior | Rep. | Appleton |
| 14 | Outagamie | 2 | Gerald Lorge | Rep. | Bear Creek |
| 20 | Ozaukee | Ozaukee | Nicholas J. Bichler | Dem. | Belgium |
| 10 | Pierce | Pierce | Arthur L. Peterson | Rep. | Prescott |
| 29 | Polk | Polk | Raymond A. Peabody | Rep. | Milltown |
| 23 | Portage | Portage | John Kostuck | Dem. | Stevens Point |
| 12 | Price | Price | Vincent J. Zellinger | Rep. | Phillips |
| 21 | Racine | 1 | Harold Gade | Dem. | Racine |
| 21 | Racine | 2 | Lawrence R. Larsen | Rep. | Racine |
| 21 | Racine | 3 | Robert J. Matheson | Rep. | Mount Pleasant |
| 27 | Richland | Richland | Milford C. Kintz | Rep. | Richland Center |
| 15 | Rock | 1 | Edward Grassman | Rep. | Edgerton |
| 15 | Rock | 2 | Burger M. Engebretson | Rep. | Beloit |
| 12 | Rusk & Sawyer | Rusk & Sawyer | Paul J. Rogan | Rep. | Ladysmith |
| 27 | Sauk | Sauk | James R. Stone | Rep. | Baraboo |
| 14 | Shawano | Shawano | Robert G. Marotz | Rep. | Shawano |
| 20 | Sheboygan | 1 | Fred E. Nuernberg | Rep. | Sheboygan |
| 20 | Sheboygan | 2 | Henry W. Timmer | Rep. | Waldo |
| 10 | St. Croix | St. Croix | William A. Bergeron | Rep. | Somerset |
| 24 | Taylor | Taylor | Millard M. Kapitz | Rep. | Rib Lake |
| 32 | Trempealeau | Trempealeau | Russell Paulson | Rep. | Strum |
| 16 | Vernon | Vernon | Arthur O. Mockrud | Rep. | Westby |
| 22 | Walworth | Walworth | Ora R. Rice | Rep. | Delavan |
| 13 | Washington | Washington | Kenneth W. Haebig | Rep. | West Bend |
| 33 | Waukesha | 1 | Alvin J. Redford | Rep. | Waukesha |
| 33 | Waukesha | 2 | Alfred R. Ludvigsen | Rep. | Hartland |
| 23 | Waupaca | Waupaca | Richard E. Peterson | Rep. | Clintonville |
| 19 | Winnebago | 1 | Harvey R. Abraham | Rep. | Oshkosh |
| 19 | Winnebago | 2 | Arnold J. Cane | Rep. | Menasha |
| 24 | Wood | Wood | William W. Clark | Rep. | Vesper |

## Committees
### Senate committees

* Senate Standing Committee on Agriculture and Conservation – M. Olson, chair
* Senate Standing Committee on Committees – W. P. Knowles, 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 – J. T. Pritchard, chair
* Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and Manufacturing – H. W. Brooks, chair
* Assembly Standing Committee on Conservation – R. S. Travis, chair
* Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent Expenditures – E. C. Nitschke, 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 – T. S. Jones, 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. Harper, 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 – E. L. Genzmer, 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 – A. F. Betts, 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 – R. H. Sengstock, 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.) & E. Grassman (Asm.), co-chairs
* Joint Special Committee on Reapportionment – R. P. Robinson (Sen.), chair

## Employees
### Senate employees

* Chief Clerk: Thomas M. Donahue
* Sergeant-at-Arms: Harold Damon
** Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: A. J. Oelmiller

### Assembly employees

* Chief Clerk: Arthur L. May
** Assistant Chief Clerk: Robert H. Boyson
* Sergeant-at-Arms: Norris J. Kellman
** Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms: Earl J. Dalton