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Plunder boxes secret bootyBy Phil McDadeand Andy HallWisconsin State JournalIt makes a nice coffee table. Or, maybe a toy box. It can be passed down through the generations. And. every two years, Wisconsin taxpayers will buy you another one.Consider it yours to keep, a souvenir of your service in the Wisconsin Legislature.It’s called a plunder box, and it’s the Legislature’s little secret.State prisoners make them, and taxpayers unwittingly buy them; more than $16,000 in the past two years has been billed for the boxes through the state’s prison industry program for labor and materials Plunder boxes were first given to lawmakers shortly after theLegislature was organized in 1848. The sturdy wooden chests, which■ Who spends the most on flags? How about stationery? Find out more history, facts and quirks about the new Legislature in the 1993 Legislative Directory inserted in today's Wisconsin State Journalare about 3 feet long and big enough to hold file folders, were used to haul documents home at the close of each sessionThe name was intended to be tongue-in-cheek, said John Holzhu-eter, a researcher with the State Historical Society. “They had raped Madison, the capital, and they were taking away their spoils, their booty.’’At times, such as the corrupt 1850s. the boxes were used to smug-Please turn to Page 2A, Col. 1
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