The Fifty-Fourth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 8, 1919, to July 30, 1919, in regular session, and re-convened in two special sessions in September 1919 and May 1920.[1]
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 5, 1918. 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 7, 1916.[1]
October 2, 1919: U.S. President Woodrow Wilson suffered a severe stroke, leaving him partially paralyzed, with permanent neurological damage.
October 28, 1919: The U.S. Congress overrode President Woodrow Wilson's veto of the Volstead Act, which established prohibition of alcohol enabled by the new 18th amendment.
November 30, 1919: Health officials declared an end to the Spanish flu pandemic.
March 19, 1920: The U.S. Senate failed in its last attempt to ratify the Treaty of Versailles. Wisconsin's senior U.S. senator Robert M. La Follette was among the leading "irreconcilable" holdouts preventing ratification.
April 6, 1920: Wisconsin voters rejected two amendments to the state constitution:
to allow legislator pay to be set by law rather than fixed in the constitution.
to allow the legislature to decrease the number of state judicial circuits while maintaining or increasing the number of judges.
July 13, 1920: Wisconsin chief justice John B. Winslow died in office. Justice Robert G. Siebecker immediately succeeded to the position of chief justice due to the rule of seniority.
December 1, 1920: Mexican revolutionary general Álvaro Obregón was inaugurated as president of Mexico, effectively ending the Mexican Revolution.
Major legislationedit
Joint Resolution ratifying an amendment to the constitution of the United States relating to intoxicating liquors, 1919 Joint Resolution 1. Wisconsin's ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
Joint Resolution relating to the league of nations, 1919 Joint Resolution 26. Endorsed the League of Nations and supported the United States joining.
Joint Resolution relating to the establishment of a Jewish State of Palestine and for the granting of complete liberty to the Jewish people in all countries, 1919 Joint Resolution 34.
Joint Resolution to amend section 21 of article IV of the constitution, relating to compensation of members of the legislature, 1919 Joint Resolution 37. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the Legislature to set its own salary through the normal legislative process. The amendment was defeated by voters in the April 1920 election.
Joint Resolution to amend section 4 of article VI of the constitution, relating to county officers, 1919 Joint Resolution 38. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to remove term limits for sheriffs.
Joint Resolution to amend sections 6 and 7, of article VII, of the constitution of the state of Wisconsin, relating to circuit judges, 1919 Joint Resolution 47. Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the Legislature to decrease the number of state judicial circuits. This amendment was also defeated by voters in the April 1920 election.
Joint Resolution memorializing congress in behalf of the farmers to repeal the law advancing the time one hour, 1919 Joint Resolution 48. Communicating to Congress disapproval of daylight saving time.
Joint Resolution to create section 3b of article XI of the constitution, relating to the indebtedness of municipal corporations, 1919 Joint Resolution 53. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to extend the allowance for municipal indebtedness for the purpose of establishing street rail projects or for heat, water, and power utility purposes.
Joint Resolution to amend section 5, article I, of the constitution, relating to trial by jury, 1919 Joint Resolution 58. First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to change the jury rules for civil cases to require a minimum of five-sixths majority for a valid verdict.
Joint Resolution ratifying an amendment to the constitution of the United States relating to woman's suffrage, 1919 Joint Resolution 64. Wisconsin's ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
^ abBarish, Lawrence S.; Lemanski, Lynn, eds. (2021). "Historical Lists" (PDF). State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2021–2022 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 467, 471, 475, 479–480. ISBN978-1-7333817-1-0. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
^ abHunter, Paul F., ed. (1919). "Biographical Sketches". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1919 (Report). Wisconsin State Printing Board. pp. 451–508. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
^ abHunter, Paul F., ed. (1919). "Organization of Legislature, 1919". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1919 (Report). Wisconsin State Printing Board. pp. 446–449. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
54th, wisconsin, legislature, fifty, fourth, wisconsin, legislature, convened, from, january, 1919, july, 1919, regular, session, convened, special, sessions, september, 1919, 1920, 53rd, 55th, wisconsin, state, capitol, 1915overviewlegislative, bodywisconsin,. The Fifty Fourth Wisconsin Legislature convened from January 8 1919 to July 30 1919 in regular session and re convened in two special sessions in September 1919 and May 1920 1 54th Wisconsin Legislature 53rd 55th Wisconsin State Capitol ca 1915OverviewLegislative bodyWisconsin LegislatureMeeting placeWisconsin State CapitolTermJanuary 6 1919 January 3 1921ElectionNovember 5 1918SenateMembers33Senate PresidentEdward Dithmar R President pro temporeWillard T Stevens R Party controlRepublicanAssemblyMembers100Assembly SpeakerRiley S Young R Party controlRepublicanSessionsRegularJanuary 8 1919 July 30 1919Special sessionsSep 1919 Spec September 4 1919 September 8 1919May 1920 Spec May 25 1920 June 4 1920 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 5 1918 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 7 1916 1 Contents 1 Major events 2 Major legislation 3 Party summary 3 1 Senate summary 3 2 Assembly summary 4 Sessions 5 Leaders 5 1 Senate leadership 5 2 Assembly leadership 6 Members 6 1 Members of the Senate 6 2 Members of the Assembly 7 Committees 7 1 Senate committees 7 2 Assembly committees 7 3 Joint committees 8 Employees 8 1 Senate employees 8 2 Assembly employees 9 Notes 10 References 11 External linksMajor events editJanuary 16 1919 The Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution establishing the prohibition of alcohol was ratified by the requisite number of states to come into force January 21 1919 The Irish Republic declared independence from the United Kingdom initiating the Irish War of Independence January 25 1919 The League of Nations was founded in Paris June 28 1919 The Treaty of Versailles was signed formalizing Germany s settlement with the Entente at the end of World War I August 11 1919 The Green Bay Packers American football club was founded by Curly Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun October 2 1919 U S President Woodrow Wilson suffered a severe stroke leaving him partially paralyzed with permanent neurological damage October 28 1919 The U S Congress overrode President Woodrow Wilson s veto of the Volstead Act which established prohibition of alcohol enabled by the new 18th amendment November 30 1919 Health officials declared an end to the Spanish flu pandemic March 19 1920 The U S Senate failed in its last attempt to ratify the Treaty of Versailles Wisconsin s senior U S senator Robert M La Follette was among the leading irreconcilable holdouts preventing ratification April 6 1920 Wisconsin voters rejected two amendments to the state constitution to allow legislator pay to be set by law rather than fixed in the constitution to allow the legislature to decrease the number of state judicial circuits while maintaining or increasing the number of judges July 13 1920 Wisconsin chief justice John B Winslow died in office Justice Robert G Siebecker immediately succeeded to the position of chief justice due to the rule of seniority August 18 1920 The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution guaranteeing women the right to vote was ratified by the requisite number of states to come into force September 6 1920 Attorney Burr W Jones was appointed a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court by Governor Emanuel L Philipp to fill the vacancy caused by the death of chief justice John B Winslow November 2 1920 1920 United States general election Warren G Harding elected President of the United States John J Blaine elected Governor of Wisconsin Irvine Lenroot re elected United States senator from Wisconsin December 1 1920 Mexican revolutionary general Alvaro Obregon was inaugurated as president of Mexico effectively ending the Mexican Revolution Major legislation editJoint Resolution ratifying an amendment to the constitution of the United States relating to intoxicating liquors 1919 Joint Resolution 1 Wisconsin s ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution Joint Resolution relating to the league of nations 1919 Joint Resolution 26 Endorsed the League of Nations and supported the United States joining Joint Resolution relating to the establishment of a Jewish State of Palestine and for the granting of complete liberty to the Jewish people in all countries 1919 Joint Resolution 34 Joint Resolution to amend section 21 of article IV of the constitution relating to compensation of members of the legislature 1919 Joint Resolution 37 Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the Legislature to set its own salary through the normal legislative process The amendment was defeated by voters in the April 1920 election Joint Resolution to amend section 4 of article VI of the constitution relating to county officers 1919 Joint Resolution 38 First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to remove term limits for sheriffs Joint Resolution to amend sections 6 and 7 of article VII of the constitution of the state of Wisconsin relating to circuit judges 1919 Joint Resolution 47 Second legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to allow the Legislature to decrease the number of state judicial circuits This amendment was also defeated by voters in the April 1920 election Joint Resolution memorializing congress in behalf of the farmers to repeal the law advancing the time one hour 1919 Joint Resolution 48 Communicating to Congress disapproval of daylight saving time Joint Resolution to create section 3b of article XI of the constitution relating to the indebtedness of municipal corporations 1919 Joint Resolution 53 First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to extend the allowance for municipal indebtedness for the purpose of establishing street rail projects or for heat water and power utility purposes Joint Resolution to amend section 5 article I of the constitution relating to trial by jury 1919 Joint Resolution 58 First legislative passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to change the jury rules for civil cases to require a minimum of five sixths majority for a valid verdict Joint Resolution ratifying an amendment to the constitution of the United States relating to woman s suffrage 1919 Joint Resolution 64 Wisconsin s ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution Party summary editSenate summary edit nbsp Senate partisan composition Democratic 2 seats Socialist 4 seats Republican 27 seats Party Shading indicates majority caucus Total Dem Soc Rep Vacant End of previous Legislature 6 2 24 32 1 Start of 1st Session 2 4 27 33 0 Final voting share 18 18 81 82 Beginning of the next Legislature 2 4 27 33 0 Assembly summary edit nbsp Assembly partisan composition Democratic 5 seats Socialist 16 seats Republican 79 seats Party Shading indicates majority caucus Total Dem Soc Rep Vacant End of previous Legislature 13 8 79 100 0 Start of 1st Session 6 16 78 100 0 From May 1 1919 note 1 77 99 1 From Nov 19 1919 note 2 76 98 2 Final voting share 22 45 77 55 Beginning of the next Legislature 2 6 92 100 0Sessions editRegular session January 8 1919 July 30 1919 September 1919 special session September 4 1919 September 8 1919 May 1920 special session May 25 1920 June 4 1920Leaders editSenate leadership edit President of the Senate Edward Dithmar R President pro tempore Willard T Stevens R Rhinelander Assembly leadership edit Speaker of the Assembly Riley S Young R Darien Members editMembers of the Senate edit Members of the Senate for the Fifty Fourth Wisconsin Legislature 2 Dist Counties Senator Residence Party 01 Door Kewaunee amp Marinette Herbert Peterson Sturgeon Bay Rep 02 Brown amp Oconto Timothy Burke Green Bay Rep 03 Kenosha amp Racine George L Buck Racine Rep 04 Milwaukee Northern Part Herman C Schultz Milwaukee Rep 05 Milwaukee Middle West County amp Central Western City Rudolph Beyer Milwaukee Soc 06 Milwaukee Northern City W C Zumach Milwaukee Soc 07 Milwaukee Southern County Louis A Arnold Milwaukee Soc 08 Milwaukee City South Louis Fons Milwaukee Rep 09 Milwaukee City Downtown David V Jennings Milwaukee Dem 10 Buffalo Pepin Pierce amp St Croix George B Skogmo River Falls Rep 11 Burnett Douglas amp Washburn Ray J Nye Superior Rep 12 Ashland Bayfield Price Rusk amp Sawyer A H Wilkinson Bayfield Rep 13 Dodge amp Washington Herman J F Bilgrien Iron Ridge Rep 14 Outagamie amp Shawano Antone Kuckuk Shawano Rep 15 Calumet amp Manitowoc Henry Kleist Rantoul Soc 16 Crawford Grant amp Richland Henry E Roethe Fennimore Rep 17 Green Iowa amp Lafayette Oscar R Olson Blanchardville Rep 18 Fond du Lac amp Green Lake Albert J Pullen North Fond du Lac Rep 19 Winnebago Julius H Dennhardt Neenah Rep 20 Ozaukee amp Sheboygan Theodore Benfey Sheboygan Rep 21 Adams Juneau Marquette amp Waushara John A Conant Westfield Rep 22 Rock amp Walworth Lawrence E Cunningham Beloit Rep 23 Portage amp Waupaca Herman J Severson Iola Rep 24 Clark amp Wood Isaac P Witter Grand Rapids Rep 25 Langlade amp Marathon Claire B Bird Wausau Rep 26 Dane Henry Huber Stoughton Rep 27 Columbia amp Sauk George Staudenmayer Caledonia Rep 28 Chippewa amp Eau Claire Roy P Wilcox Eau Claire Rep 29 Barron Dunn amp Polk Algodt C Anderson Menomonie Rep 30 Florence Forest Iron Lincoln Oneida Taylor amp Vilas Willard T Stevens Rhinelander Rep 31 Jackson Monroe amp Vernon J Henry Bennett Viroqua Rep 32 La Crosse amp Trempealeau Eugene F Clark Galesville Rep 33 Jefferson amp Waukesha Charles Mulberger Watertown Dem Members of the Assembly edit Members of the Assembly for the Fifty Fourth Wisconsin Legislature 2 SenateDist County Dist Representative Party Residence 21 Adams amp Marquette James F McDowell Rep Montello 12 Ashland John C Chapple Rep Ashland 29 Barron Clarence Clinton Coe Rep Barron 12 Bayfield Frank W Downs Rep Washburn 02 Brown 1 Thomas A Delaney Dem Green Bay 2 Niels P Larsen Rep Denmark 10 Buffalo amp Pepin Edwin F Ganz Rep 11 Burnett amp Washburn James H Jensen Rep Grantsburg 15 Calumet Otto Luehrs Soc Rantoul 28 Chippewa Thomas W Bartingale Rep 24 Clark Harry Hewett Rep 27 Columbia W R Chipman Rep Leeds 16 Crawford O P Vaughan Rep Wauzeka 26 Dane 1 Marcus E Johnson Rep Madison 2 James C Hanson Rep Christiana 3 Carl M Grimstad Rep Mount Horeb 13 Dodge 1 Jacob Scharpf Rep Juneau 2 Samuel R Webster Rep Elba 01 Door Frank N Graass Rep 11 Douglas 1 James B French Rep Superior 2 J W Conner Rep 29 Dunn Alonzo L Best Rep Tiffany 28 Eau Claire Rush Bullis Rep Washington 30 Florence Forest amp Oneida Ira E Smith Rep Cassian 18 Fond du Lac 1 Herman Schroeder Rep Empire 2 John E Johnson Rep Brandon 16 Grant 1 John L Grindell Rep Platteville 2 John J Ruka Rep Boscobel 17 Green William Olson Rep Jordan 18 Green Lake Samuel Owens Rep Green Lake 17 Iowa John T Williams Rep Dodgeville 30 Iron amp Vilas Joseph J Defer Rep Saxon 31 Jackson William F Dettinger Rep Hixton 33 Jefferson 1 John Mitchell Rep Palmyra 2 John W Porter Rep Oakland 21 Juneau George Frohmader Rep Camp Douglas 03 Kenosha Peter M Anderson Rep 01 Kewaunee William H O Brien Dem Franklin 32 La Crosse 1 Carl Kurtenecker Rep La Crosse 2 Orrin Fletcher Rep Burns 17 Lafayette John P Sheldon Rep Darlington 25 Langlade Frank J Olmsted Rep Elcho 30 Lincoln Walter B Chilsen Rep Merrill 15 Manitowoc 1 John Lorfeld Rep Meeme 2 Herman Roethel Soc Kiel 25 Marathon 1 Charles Zarnke Soc Flieth 2 Herman Marth Soc Wausau 01 Marinette James Pedersen Rep Marinette 09 Milwaukee 1 Jacob J Killa Dem Milwaukee 2 Joseph Klein Soc Milwaukee 3 John P Donnelly Dem Milwaukee 05 4 Albert Ehlman Soc Milwaukee 08 5 John Kaney Rep Milwaukee 05 6 Henry Sievers Soc Milwaukee 7 Alex C Ruffing Soc Milwaukee 08 8 Frank Kubatzki Dem Milwaukee 06 9 Julius Kiesner Soc Milwaukee 04 10 Edwin Knappe Soc Milwaukee 08 11 William E Jordan Soc Milwaukee 12 George Czerwinski Dem Milwaukee 04 13 John M Sell Soc Milwaukee 07 14 John Masiakowski Soc Milwaukee 05 15 Frank X Bauer Soc Milwaukee 16 George A Bowman Rep Milwaukee 07 17 Frank Metcalfe Soc Milwaukee 04 18 Arnold C Otto Rep Milwaukee 07 19 Delbert Miller Rep West Allis 31 Monroe Miles Hineman Rep Tomah 02 Oconto George E Ansorge Rep Oconto 14 Outagamie 1 Clinton B Ballard Rep Grand Chute 2 Anthony M McClone Rep Deer Creek 20 Ozaukee Louis L Pierron Rep Belgium 10 Pierce Charles E Hanson Rep River Falls 29 Polk Axel Johnson Rep Apple River 23 Portage Harold J Week Rep Stevens Point 12 Price Hugo Kandutsch Rep Kennan 03 Racine 1 Robert Mutter Rep Racine 2 Henry F Johnson Rep Norway 28 Richland John C Anderson Rep Cazenovia 22 Rock 1 Thomas S Nolan Rep Janesville 2 Alonzo J Mathison Rep Beloit 12 Rusk amp Sawyer John H Hellweg Rep Hayward 27 Sauk George H Hood Rep Baraboo 14 Shawano King Weeman Rep Shawano 20 Sheboygan 1 Charles Burhop Soc Sheboygan 2 R B Melvin Rep Greenbush 10 St Croix George Oakes Rep New Richmond 30 Taylor L W Gibson died May 1 1919 Rep Medford 32 Trempealeau John A Markham Rep Independence 31 Vernon Clarence H Carter Rep Readstown 23 Walworth Riley S Young Rep Darien 13 Washington Alfred G Becker Rep Addison 33 Waukesha 1 John F Buckley Rep Waukesha 2 W H Edwards Rep Sussex 23 Waupaca Robert M Hanson Rep Scandinavia 21 Waushara Frank Ploetz Rep Coloma 19 Winnebago 1 Clark M Perry Rep Oshkosh 2 Herman A Porath Rep Vinland 3 Eber Simpson died Nov 19 1919 Rep Oshkosh 24 Wood Byron Whittingham Rep ArpinCommittees editSenate committees edit Senate Standing Committee on Committees I P Witter chair Senate Standing Committee on Contingent Expenditures H E Roethe chair Senate Standing Committee on Corporations J H Bennett chair Senate Standing Committee on Education and Public Welfare A J Pullen chair Senate Standing Committee on Highways L E Cunningham chair Senate Standing Committee on the Judiciary T Benfey chair Senate Standing Committee on Legislative Procedure W T Stevens chair Senate Standing Committee on Reconstruction and Readjustment R P Wilcox chair Senate Standing Committee on State Affairs W T Stevens chair Assembly committees edit Assembly Standing Committee on Agriculture S R Webster chair Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce and Manufactures J E Johnson chair Assembly Standing Committee on Contingent Expenditures J W Conner chair Assembly Standing Committee on Education M L Hineman chair Assembly Standing Committee on Elections W R Chipman chair Assembly Standing Committee on Engrossed Bills E F Ganz chair Assembly Standing Committee on Enrolled Bills C E Hanson chair Assembly Standing Committee on Excise and Fees J C Anderson chair Assembly Standing Committee on Fish and Game H Kandutsch chair Assembly Standing Committee on Highways J J Ruka chair Assembly Standing Committee on Insurance and Banking J C Chapple chair Assembly Standing Committee on the Judiciary T S Nolan chair Assembly Standing Committee on Labor J H Jensen chair Assembly Standing Committee on Municipalities F N Graass chair Assembly Standing Committee on Printing G H Hood chair Assembly Standing Committee on Public Welfare R B Melvin chair Assembly Standing Committee on Revision W F Dettinger chair Assembly Standing Committee on Rules J F Buckley chair Assembly Standing Committee on State Affairs A Johnson chair Assembly Standing Committee on Taxation W H Edwards chair Assembly Standing Committee on Third Reading G E Ansorge chair Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation C H Carter chair Joint committees edit Joint Standing Committee on Finance A H Wilkinson Sen amp C Kurtenacker Asm co chairs Joint Special Committee on Drainage I P Witter Sen chair Joint Special Committee for the Historical Society Investigation H E Roethe Sen chair Joint Special Committee for the International Harvester Co Investigation J H Bennett Sen chair Joint Special Committee on Legislative Visiting E F Clark Sen chair Joint Special Committee for the Milwaukee Street Railway Investigation G B Skogmo Sen chair Joint Special Committee on Pensions Annuities and Retirement Funds for Teachers A Kuckuk Sen chairEmployees editSenate employees edit Chief Clerk Oliver G Munson 3 Assistant Chief Clerk C E Mullen Sergeant at Arms John Turner Assistant Sergeant at Arms Olaf Goldstrand Postmaster Frank C Densmore Assembly employees edit Chief Clerk C E Shaffer 3 Journal Clerk Charles E Tuffley Sergeant at Arms Thomas Grant Cretney Assistant Sergeant at Arms E F Wright Postmaster J E BarnardNotes edit Republican Levi Withee Gibson Taylor County died Republican Eber Simpson Winnebago County died References edit a b Barish Lawrence S Lemanski Lynn eds 2021 Historical Lists PDF State of Wisconsin Blue Book 2021 2022 Report Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau pp 467 471 475 479 480 ISBN 978 1 7333817 1 0 Retrieved March 11 2023 a b Hunter Paul F ed 1919 Biographical Sketches The Wisconsin Blue Book 1919 Report Wisconsin State Printing Board pp 451 508 Retrieved June 23 2023 a b Hunter Paul F ed 1919 Organization of Legislature 1919 The Wisconsin Blue Book 1919 Report Wisconsin State Printing Board pp 446 449 Retrieved June 23 2023 External links edit1919 Related Documents from Wisconsin Legislature Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 54th Wisconsin Legislature amp oldid 1166640485, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
