154th New York State Legislature

New York state legislative session February 2025 October 2019 154th January 1 December 31, 1931 Lt. Gov. Herbert H. Lehman (D) John Knight (R), until April 9 George R. Fearon (R), from April 9 Joseph A. McGinnies (R) 51 150 Republican (26–25) Republican (80–70) 1st January 7 April 10, 1931 2nd August 25 September 19, 1931 153rd 155th The 154th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 7 to September 19, 1931, during the third year of Franklin D. Roosevelt's governorship, in Albany. Background Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1894, re-apportioned in 1917, 51 Senators and 150 assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts; senators for a two-year term, assemblymen for a one-year term. The senatorial districts consisted either of one or more entire counties; or a contiguous area within a single county. The counties which were divided into more than one senatorial district were New York (nine districts), Kings (eight), Bronx (three), Erie (three), Monroe (two), Queens (two), and Westchester (two). The Assembly districts were made up of contiguous area, all within the same county. At this time there were two major political parties: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The Law Preservation Party, the Socialist Party, the Communist Party, and the Socialist Labor Party also nominated tickets. Elections The 1930 New York state election was held on November 4. Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lieutenant Governor Herbert H. Lehman, both Democrats, were re-elected. Of the other three statewide elective offices, two were carried by Democrats and one by a Republican judge with Democratic endorsement. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Governor, was: Democrats 1,770,000; Republicans 1,045,000; Law Preservation 191,000; Socialists 100,000; Communists 18,000; and Socialist Labor 9,000. Assemblywoman Rhoda Fox Graves (Rep.), of Gouverneur, a former school teacher who after her marriage became active in women's organisations and politics, was re-elected, and remained the only woman legislator. Sessions The Legislature met for the regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 7, 1931; and adjourned on April 10.AMITY MARKS CLOSING in The New York Times on April 11, 1931 (subscription required) Joseph A. McGinnies (Rep.) was re-elected Speaker. John Knight was re-elected Temporary President of the State Senate. He was appointed to the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, and resigned as Temporary President. On April 9, George R. Fearon was elected to succeed.LEGISLATORS RUSH FIFTY BILLS ON WAY; Both Parties Join to Elect Senator Fearon to Succeed President Pro Tem Knight in The New York Times on April 10, 1931 (subscription required) Knight vacated his seat on May 1 when he took office as federal judge. After the ouster of Democrat Samuel H. Miller, the election of Republican Charles B. Horton, and the death of the Democratic minority leader Bernard Downing, the Republicans continued to hold a majority of 26 to 23 in the Senate during the special session, 26 being the minimum number of votes to pass a law. The Legislature met for a special session at the State Capitol in Albany on August 25, 1931;GOVERNOR CONSIDERS $25,000,000 RELIEF FOR UNEMPLOYMENT in The New York Times on August 25, 1931 (subscription required) and adjourned on September 19. This session was called to enact legislation to provide for emergency unemployment relief.ROOSEVELT DECIDES ON RELIEF HEADS in The New York Times on September 21, 1931 (subscription required) State Senate Districts 30em 1st District: Nassau and Suffolk counties 2nd and 3rd District: Parts of Queens County, i.e. the Borough of Queens 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th District: Parts of Kings County, i.e. the Borough of Brooklyn 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th District: Parts of New York County, i.e. the Borough of Manhattan 21st, 22nd and 23rd District: Parts of Bronx County, i.e. the Borough of the Bronx 24th District: Richmond County, i.e. the Borough of Richmond (now the Borough of Staten Island), and Rockland County 25th District: Part of Westchester County 26th District: Cortlandt, Greenburgh, Mount Pleasant, Ossining and part of Yonkers; in Westchester County 27th District: Orange and Sullivan counties 28th District: Columbia, Dutchess and Putnam counties 29th District: Delaware, Greene and Ulster counties 30th District: Albany County 31st District: Rensselaer County 32nd District: Saratoga and Schenectady counties 33rd District: Clinton, Essex, Warren and Washington counties 34th District: Franklin and St. Lawrence counties 35th District: Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer and Lewis counties 36th District: Oneida County 37th District: Jefferson and Oswego counties 38th District: Onondaga County 39th District: Madison, Montgomery, Otsego and Schoharie counties 40th District: Broome, Chenango and Cortland counties 41st District: Chemung, Schuyler, Tioga and Tompkins counties 42nd District: Cayuga, Seneca and Wayne counties 43rd District: Ontario, Steuben and Yates counties 44th District: Allegany, Genesee, Livingston and Wyoming 45th and 46th District: Monroe County 47th District: Niagara and Orleans counties 48th, 49th and 50th District: Erie County 51st District: Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties Members The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Joseph D. Nunan Jr, Frank B. Hendel, John J. Howard and Julius S. Berg changed from the Assembly to the Senate. Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..."; Chairmanships as appointed at the beginning of the session District Senator Party Notes1stGeorge L. Thompson* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Conservation2ndJoseph D. Nunan Jr.* Democrat3rdFrank B. Hendel* Democrat4thPhilip M. Kleinfeld* Democratre-elected5thJohn J. Howard* Democrat6thMarcellus H. Evans* Democratre-elected7thJohn A. Hastings* Democratre-elected8thWilliam L. Love* Democratre-elected9thHenry L. O'Brien* Democratre-elected10thJeremiah F. Twomey* Democratre-elected11thJames J. Crawford* Democratre-elected12thElmer F. Quinn* Democratre-elected13thThomas F. Burchill* Democratre-elected14thBernard Downing* Democratre-elected; Minority Leader; died on May 25, 193115thJohn L. Buckley* Democratre-elected16thJohn J. McNaboe Democrat17thSamuel H. Hofstadter* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of General Laws18thJohn T. McCall Democrat19thDuncan T. O'Brien* Democratre-elected20thA. Spencer Feld* Democratre-elected21stHenry G. Schackno* Democratre-elected22ndJulius S. Berg* Democrat23rdJohn J. Dunnigan* Democratre-elected; Minority Leader from August 2524thHarry J. Palmer* Democratre-elected25thWalter W. Westall* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Internal Affairs26thSeabury C. Mastick* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Taxation and Retrenchment27thThomas C. Desmond RepublicanChairman of Public Printing28thJ. Griswold Webb* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Public Education29thArthur H. Wicks* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Public Health30thWilliam T. Byrne* Democratre-elected31stJohn F. Williams* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Affairs of Villages32ndAlexander G. Baxter RepublicanChairman of Revision33rdHenry E. H. Brereton* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Civil Service34thWarren T. Thayer* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Public Service35thHenry I. Patrie* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Privileges and Elections 36thSamuel H. Miller Democratcontested by William S. Murray (R); seat vacated on March 31SENATE UNSEATS MILLER OF ONEIDA in The New York Times on April 1, 1931 (subscription required)Charles B. Horton Republicanelected on May 5 to fill vacancyHorton, Republican, Wins State Senate Seat in The New York Times on May 6, 1931 (subscription required)37thPerley A. Pitcher* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Codes38thGeorge R. Fearon* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Judiciary; on April 9, elected Temporary President39thJohn W. Gates* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Labor and Industry40thBert Lord* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Pensions41stFrank A. Frost* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Commerce and Navigation; Chairman of Printed and Engrossed Bills42ndCharles J. Hewitt* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Finance43rdLeon F. Wheatley* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Insurance44thJohn Knight* Republicanre-elected; re-elected Temporary President; Chairman of Rules; on March 30, appointed to the U.S. Court for the Western D. of NYHOOVER PUTS KNIGHT ON FEDERAL BENCH in The New York Times on March 31, 1931 (subscription required)45thCosmo A. Cilano* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Military Affairs46thFred J. Slater* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Penal Institutions47thWilliam W. Campbell* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Banks; Chairman of Re-Apportionment48thWilliam J. Hickey* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Cities49thStephen J. Wojtkowiak* Democratre-elected50thNelson W. Cheney* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Canals51stLeigh G. Kirkland* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Agriculture Employees Clerk: A. Miner Wellman State Assembly Assemblymen Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..." District Assemblymen Party Notes Albany1stJohn H. Cahill* Democrat2ndJohn P. Hayes* Democrat3rdRudolph I. Roulier* Democrat AlleganyHarry E. Goodrich* Republican Bronx1stNicholas J. Eberhard* Democrat2ndWilliam F. Smith* Democrat3rdCarl Pack Democrat4thHerman M. Albert* Democrat5thHarry A. Samberg* Democrat6thChristopher C. McGrath* Democrat7thJohn F. Reidy* Democrat8thJohn A. Devany Jr.* Democrat Broome1stEdmund B. Jenks* RepublicanChairman of Judiciary2ndForman E. Whitcomb* RepublicanChairman of Cities CattaraugusJames W. Riley Republican CayugaFred Lewis Palmer Republican Chautauqua1stHubert E. V. Porter* Republican2ndJoseph A. McGinnies* Republicanre-elected Speaker; Chairman of Rules ChemungG. Archie Turner* Republican ChenangoIrving M. Ives* Republican ClintonCharles D. Munsil* Republican ColumbiaCharles S. Fayerweather Democrat CortlandIrving F. Rice* RepublicanChairman of Public Education DelawareJames R. Stevenson* Republican Dutchess1stHoward N. Allen* RepublicanChairman of Charitable and Religious Societies2ndCharles F. Close Republican Erie1stCharles J. Gimbrone* RepublicanChairman of Aviation2ndWilliam L. Marcy Jr.* Republican3rdFrank X. Bernhardt* RepublicanChairman of Revision4thAnthony J. Canney* Democrat5thEdwin L. Kantowski Democrat6thHoward W. Dickey* RepublicanChairman of General Laws7thArthur L. Swartz* Republican8thR. Foster Piper* Republican EssexFred L. Porter* RepublicanChairman of Re-Organization of State Government FranklinJames A. Latour* Republican Fulton and HamiltonEberly Hutchinson* RepublicanChairman of Ways and Means GeneseeCharles P. Miller* RepublicanChairman of Labor and Industries GreeneEllis W. Bentley* RepublicanChairman of Conservation HerkimerWilliam J. Thistlethwaite* Republican JeffersonJasper W. Cornaire* RepublicanChairman of Re-Apportionment Kings1stCrawford W. Hawkins* Democrat2ndAlbert D. Schanzer* Democrat3rdMichael J. Gillen* Democrat4thGeorge E. Dennen* Democrat5thJohn J. Cooney* Democrat6thJacob J. Schwartzwald* Democrat7thWilliam Kirnan Democrat8thLuke O'Reilly* Democrat9thDaniel McNamara Jr.* Democrat10thWilliam C. McCreery* Democrat11thEdward J. Coughlin* Democrat12thEdward S. Moran Jr.* Democrat13thWilliam Breitenbach* Democrat14thJacob P. Nathanson* Democrat15thEdward P. Doyle* Democrat16thMaurice Z. Bungard* Democrat17thRobert K. Story Jr. Republican18thIrwin Steingut* DemocratMinority Leader19thJerome G. Ambro* Democrat20thFrank A. Miller* Democratdied on June 25, 193121stJoseph A. Esquirol* Democrat22ndJacob H. Livingston* Democrat23rdAlbert M. Cohen* Democrat LewisEdward M. Sheldon* Republican LivingstonA. Grant Stockweather* Republican MadisonArthur A. Hartshorn* RepublicanChairman of Social Welfare Monroe1stTruman G. Searle* Republican2ndHarry J. McKay* Republican3rdHaskell H. Marks* Republican4thRichard L. Saunders* Republican5thW. Ray Austin* RepublicanChairman of Public Health MontgomeryRufus Richtmyer* Republican Nassau1stEdwin W. Wallace* RepublicanChairman of Affairs of Villages2ndEdwin R. Lynde* Republican New York1stJames J. Dooling* Democrat2ndMillard E. Theodore* Democrat3rdSylvester A. Dineen* Democrat4thSamuel Mandelbaum* Democrat5thJohn F. Killgrew Democrat6thIrving D. Neustein Democrat7thSaul S. Streit* Democrat8thHenry O. Kahan* Democrat9thIra H. Holley* Democrat10thLangdon W. Post* Democrat11thPatrick H. Sullivan* Democrat12thJohn A. Byrnes* Democrat13thWilliam J. Sheldrick Democrat14thJoseph T. Higgins* Democrat15thAbbot Low Moffat* Republican16thWilliam Schwartz* Democrat17thMeyer Alterman* Democrat18thSol A. Hyman Democrat19thJames E. Stephens Democrat20thLouis A. Cuvillier* Democrat21stDavid Paris Democrat22ndBenjamin B. Mittler* Democrat23rdAlexander A. Falk* Democrat Niagara1stFayette E. Pease* Republican2ndRoy Hewitt* Republican Oneida1stMark C. Kelly Democrat2ndRussell G. Dunmore* RepublicanMajority Leader3rdWalter W. Abbott* Republican Onondaga1stHorace M. Stone* RepublicanChairman of Insurance2ndWillis H. Sargent* RepublicanChairman of Banks3rdRichard B. Smith* RepublicanChairman of Public Printing OntarioRobert A. Catchpole* RepublicanChairman of Public Service Orange1stWilliam J. Lamont Republican2ndRainey S. Taylor Republican OrleansJohn S. Thompson Republican OswegoVictor C. Lewis* RepublicanChairman of Canals OtsegoFrank M. Smith* RepublicanChairman of Agriculture PutnamD. Mallory Stephens* RepublicanChairman of Military Affairs Queens1stJohn O'Rourke* Democrat2ndJoseph C. Mulligan Democrat3rdPeter T. Farrell* Democrat4thJames A. Burke Democrat5thMaurice A. FitzGerald* Democrat6thFrederick L. Zimmerman* Democrat Rensselaer1stMichael F. Breen* Democrat2ndMaurice Whitney* RepublicanChairman of Commerce and Navigation Richmond1stFrancis P. Heffernan Democrat2ndWilliam L. Vaughan* Democrat RocklandFred R. Horn Jr.*Ferdinand R. Horn Jr. (born 1897), ran sometimes for office as "Fred R. Horn Jr." Democrat St. Lawrence1stRhoda Fox Graves* RepublicanChairwoman of Public Institutions2ndWalter L. Pratt* RepublicanChairman of Taxation and Retrenchment SaratogaBurton D. Esmond* RepublicanChairman of Codes Schenectady1stCharles W. Merriam* Republican2ndWilliam W. Wemple Jr.* Republican SchoharieKenneth H. Fake* RepublicanChairman of Pensions SchuylerJacob W. Winters* Republican SenecaJames D. Pollard* Republican Steuben1stWilson Messer* RepublicanChairman of Soldiers' Homes2ndJames T. Foody* Republican Suffolk1stJohn G. Downs* Republican2ndHamilton F. Potter* Republican SullivanWilliam Whittaker Democrat TiogaFrank G. Miller* Republican TompkinsJames R. Robinson* RepublicanChairman of Claims UlsterMillard Davis* Republican WarrenHarry A. Reoux Republican WashingtonHerbert A. Bartholomew* RepublicanChairman of Internal Affairs WayneHarry A. Tellier* RepublicanChairman of Excise Westchester1stCharles H. Hathaway* Republican2ndRalph A. Gamble Republican3rdMilan E. Goodrich* RepublicanChairman of Penal Institutions4thAlexander H. Garnjost* Republican5thWilliam F. Condon* Republican WyomingJoe R. Hanley* Republican YatesEdwin C. Nutt* Republican Employees Clerk: Fred W. Hammond Notes Sources Members of the New York Senate (1930s) at Political Graveyard Members of the New York Assembly (1930s) at Political Graveyard G.O.P. SENATE, ASSEMBLY, PICK COMMITTEES in The Morning Herald, of Gloversville and Johnstown, on January 13, 1931 (front page) G.O.P. NAMES COMMITTEES in The Morning Herald, of Gloversville and Johnstown, on January 13, 1931 (page 3) 154 Category:1931 in New York (state) Category:1931 U.S. legislative sessions