171st New York State Legislature

New York state legislative session February 2025 October 2019 171st January 1, 1957 December 31, 1958 Lt. Gov. George B. DeLuca (D) Walter J. Mahoney (R) Oswald D. Heck (R) 58 150 Republican (1957: 38–20) (1958: 37–21) Republican 1st January 9 March 30, 1957 2nd June 10 13, 1957 3rd January 8 March 26, 1958 170th 172nd The 171st New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 9, 1957, to March 26, 1958, during the third and fourth years of W. Averell Harriman's governorship, in Albany. Background Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1938, re-apportioned in 1953, 58 Senators and 150 assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts for two-year terms. 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 Kings (nine districts), New York (six), Queens (five), Bronx (four), Erie (three), Nassau (three), Westchester (three), Monroe (two) and Onondaga (two). The Assembly districts consisted either of a single entire county (except Hamilton Co.), or of contiguous area within one county. At this time there were two major political parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The Liberal Party also nominated tickets. Elections The 1956 New York state election was held on November 6. The only statewide elective office up for election was a U.S. Senator from New York. The Republican Attorney General Jacob K. Javits defeated the Democratic/Liberal Mayor of New York Robert F. Wagner Jr. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for U.S. Senator, was: Republicans 3,724,000; Democrats 2,965,000; and Liberals 301,000. Five of the six women members of the previous legislature—Assemblywomen Bessie A. Buchanan (Dem.), a retired musical actress and dancer of Harlem; Janet Hill Gordon (Rep.), a lawyer of Norwich; Frances K. Marlatt (Rep.), a lawyer of Mount Vernon; Genesta M. Strong (Rep.), of Plandome Heights; and Mildred F. Taylor (Rep.), a coal dealer of Lyons—were re-elected. The 1957 New York state election was held on November 5. No statewide elective offices were up for election. Three vacancies in the State Senate and three vacancies in the Assembly were filled.Democrats Gain a State Senate Seat; Assembly's Alignment Is Unchanged in The New York Times on November 6, 1957 (subscription required) Sessions The Legislature met for the first regular session (the 180th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 9, 1957;ALBANY SESSION CONVENES TODAY in The New York Times on January 9, 1957 (subscription required) and adjourned on March 30.COURT PLAN DIES AS LEGISLATURE ENDS ITS SESSION in The New York Times on March 31, 1957 (subscription required) Oswald D. Heck (Rep.) was re-elected Speaker. Walter J. Mahoney (Rep.) was re-elected Temporary President of the State Senate. The Legislature met for a special session at the State Capitol in Albany on June 10, 1957;GOVERNOR SCORED ON EVE OF SESSION in The New York Times on June 10, 1957 (subscription required) and adjourned on June 13.SESSION ADJOURNS ON PASSING 2 BILLS HARRIMAN VETOED in The New York Times on June 14, 1957 (subscription required) This session was called, among other things, to consider legislation concerning worker benefits and telephone rates.HARRIMAN CALL TO LEGISLATURE LISTS 7 SUBJECTS in The New York Times on May 29, 1957 (subscription required) The Legislature met for the second regular session (the 181st) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 8, 1958;LEGISLATORS FACE ISSUE OF TAX CUT AT OPENING TODAY in The New York Times on January 8, 1958 (subscription required) and adjourned on March 26.LEGISLATURE ENDS; ACCORD REACHED ON COMPENSATION in The New York Times on March 27, 1958 (subscription required) State Senate Districts 30em 1st District: Suffolk County 2nd, 3rd and 4th District: Parts of Nassau County 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th District: Parts of Queens County, i.e. the Borough of Queens 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th District: Parts of Kings County, i.e. the Borough of Brooklyn 19th District: Richmond County, i.e. the Borough of Richmond (now the Borough of Staten Island) 20th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th and 25th District: Parts of New York County, i.e. the Borough of Manhattan 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th District: Parts of Bronx County, i.e. the Borough of the Bronx 30th, 31st and 32nd District: Parts of Westchester County 33rd District: Orange and Rockland counties 34th District: Delaware, Greene, Sullivan and Ulster counties 35th District: Columbia, Dutchess and Putnam counties 36th District: Albany County 37th District: Rensselaer and Washington counties 38th District: Schenectady and Schoharie counties 39th District: Essex, Saratoga and Warren counties 40th District: Clinton, Franklin and St. Lawrence counties 41st District: Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer and Montgomery counties 42nd District: Oneida County 43rd District: Jefferson, Lewis and Oswego 44th and 45th District: Parts of Onondaga County 46th District: Chenango, Cortland, Madison and Otsego counties 47th District: Broome County 48th District: Cayuga, Tioga and Tompkins counties 49th District: Chemung and Steuben counties 50th District: Ontario, Schuyler, Seneca, Wayne and Yates counties 51st and 52nd District: Parts of Monroe County 53rd District: Allegany, Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties 54th District: Niagara County 55th, 56th and 57th District: Parts of Erie County 58th District: Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties Senators The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Elisha T. Barrett and Thomas A. Duffy changed from the Assembly to the Senate at the beginning of this Legislature. Assemblymen John H. Farrell and A. Gould Hatch were elected to fill vacancies in the Senate. Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..." District Senator Party Notes1stElisha T. Barrett* Republican2ndDaniel G. Albert* Republican3rdWilliam S. Hults Jr.* Republican4thEdward J. Speno* Republican5thWalter G. McGahan* Republican 6thJames J. Crisona* Dem./Lib.on November 5, 1957, elected Borough President of QueensIrving Mosberg Dem./Lib.on January 14, 1958, elected to fill vacancy4 SEATS RETAINED IN SPECIAL RACES in The New York Times on January 15, 1958 (subscription required)7thIrwin Pakula Republican8thThomas A. Duffy Dem./Lib.9thThomas J. Mackell* Dem./Lib.10thHerbert I. Sorin* Dem./Lib.11thWalter E. Cooke* Dem./Lib. 12thFred G. Moritt* Dem./Lib.resigned on September 13, 1957, to run for the Municipal CourtJeremiah B. Bloom Dem./Lib.on November 5, 1957, elected to fill vacancy13thThomas J. Cuite* Dem./Lib.14thWilliam T. Conklin Republican15thFrank J. Pino* Dem./Lib.16thWilliam Rosenblatt* Dem./Lib.17thSamuel L. Greenberg* Dem./Lib.18thHarry Gittleson* Dem./Lib.19thJohn J. Marchi Republican20thMacNeil Mitchell* Republican21stJames Lopez Watson* Dem./Lib.22ndJohn P. Morrissey Dem./Lib.23rdJoseph Zaretzki* Dem./Lib.Minority Leader24thJoseph R. Marro* Dem./Lib. 25thvacant Francis J. Mahoney (D) was re-elected, but died on December 23, 1956John H. Farrell* Dem./Lib.on February 14, 1957, elected to fill vacancyFARRELL ELECTED AS STATE SENATOR in The New York Times on February 15, 1957 (subscription required)26thHarry Kraf* Democrat27thJacob H. Gilbert* Democrat28thNathaniel T. Helman* Democrat29thJoseph F. Periconi Republican30thFrank S. McCullough* Republican31stPliny W. Williamson* RepublicanChairman of Judiciary; died on October 21, 195832ndWilliam F. Condon* Republican33rdThomas C. Desmond* Republican34thE. Ogden Bush Republican35thErnest I. Hatfield* Republican 36thPeter J. Dalessandro* Dem./Lib.resigned on July 10, 1957, to become secretary to Joseph ZaretzkiState Senator Resigns in The New York Times on July 11, 1957 (subscription required)Julian B. Erway Dem./Lib.on November 5, 1957, elected to fill vacancy 37thHenry Neddo* Republicandied on January 11, 1957Albert Berkowitz Republicanon February 14, 1957, elected to fill vacancy 38thThomas F. Campbell* Republicandied on March 7, 1957Owen M. Begley Dem./Lib.on November 5, 1957, elected to fill vacancy39thGilbert T. Seelye* Republican40thRobert C. McEwen* Republican41stWalter Van Wiggeren* Republican42ndFred J. Rath* Republican43rdHenry A. Wise* Republican44thSearles G. Shultz* Republican45thJohn H. Hughes* Republican46thWheeler Milmoe* Republican47thWarren M. Anderson* Republican48thGeorge R. Metcalf* Republican49thHarry K. Morton* Republican50thDutton Peterson* Republican51stFrank E. Van Lare* Republican 52ndvacant George T. Manning (R) was re-elected but died on December 1, 1956A. Gould Hatch* Republicanon February 14, 1957, elected to fill vacancy53rdAustin W. Erwin* RepublicanChairman of Finance54thEarl W. Brydges* Republican55thWalter J. Mahoney* Republicanre-elected Temporary President56thStanley J. Bauer* Republican57thJohn H. Cooke* Republican58thGeorge H. Pierce* Republican Employees Secretary: William S. King State Assembly Assemblymen Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..." District Assemblymen Party Notes Albany1stEdwin Corning Jr.* Dem./Lib.2ndHarvey M. Lifset Dem./Lib. AlleganyWilliam H. MacKenzie* RepublicanChairman of Ways and Means Bronx1stBernard C. McDonnell* Democrat2ndSidney H. Asch* Democrat3rdMoses J. Epstein Democrat4thFelipe N. Torres* Democrat5thMelville E. Abrams* Democrat 6thWalter H. Gladwin* Democraton October 29, 1957, appointed as a City MagistrateGladwin Named Magistrate in The New York Times on October 30, 1957 (subscription required)Ivan Warner Democratelected on January 14, 1958, to fill vacancy7thJohn T. Satriale* Democrat 8thMitchell J. Sherwin* Democraton December 13, 1957, appointed as a City MagistrateAlexander Chananau Democratelected on January 14, 1958, to fill vacancy9thWilliam Kapelman* Democrat10thGeorge W. Harrington Republican11thThomas E. Ferrandina Republican12thParnell J. T. Callahan Republican Broome1stDaniel S. Dickinson Jr.* Republican2ndGeorge L. Ingalls* Republican CattaraugusLeo P. Noonan* Republican CayugaCharles A. Cusick* Republican ChautauquaA. Bruce Manley* Republican ChemungHarry J. Tifft* Republican ChenangoJanet Hill Gordon* Republican ClintonRobert J. Feinberg Republican ColumbiaWillard C. Drumm* Republican CortlandLouis H. Folmer* Republican DelawareEdwyn E. Mason* Republican DutchessRobert Watson Pomeroy* Republican Erie1stThomas J. Runfola* Republican2ndWilliam E. Adams Republican3rdWilliam J. Butler* Republican4thFrank J. Caffery* Dem./Lib.5thJohn B. Lis* Dem./Lib.6thGeorge F. Dannebrock* Republican7thJulius Volker* Republican8thWilliam Sadler* Republican EssexGrant W. Johnson* Republican FranklinRobert G. Main* Republican Fulton and HamiltonJoseph R. Younglove* Republican GeneseeJohn E. Johnson* Republican GreeneWilliam E. Brady* Republican HerkimerLeo A. Lawrence* Republican JeffersonOrin S. Wilcox* Rep./Lib. Kings1stMax M. Turshen* Dem./Lib.2ndSamuel Bonom* Democrat3rdHarry J. Donnelly Republican4thBernard Austin* Dem./Lib.5thJohn A. Monteleone* Dem./Lib.6thBertram L. Baker* Dem./Lib.7thLouis Kalish* Dem./Lib.8thFrank Composto* Dem./Lib.9thFrank J. McMullen* Republican10thJohn J. Ryan* Dem./Lib.11thEugene F. Bannigan* Dem./Lib.Minority Leader; died on July 4, 195812thLuigi R. Marano Republican13thLawrence P. Murphy* Dem./Lib.14thEdward S. Lentol* Dem./Lib.15thAlfred A. Lama* Dem./Lib.16thBernard Haber* Democrat17thSamuel I. Berman* Dem./Lib.18thStanley Steingut* Dem./Lib.19thFrank S. Samansky* Democrat20thJoseph R. Corso* Dem./Lib.21stBertram L. Podell* Dem./Lib.22ndAnthony J. Travia* Dem./Lib. LewisBenjamin H. Demo* Republican LivingstonKenneth R. Willard Republican MadisonHarold I. Tyler* Republican Monroe1stJ. Eugene Goddard* Republican 2ndA. Gould Hatch* Rep./Lib.resigned on February 27, 1957, after election to the State SenateJohn J. Conway Jr. Republicanon November 5, 1957, elected to fill vacancy3rdPaul B. Hanks Jr.* Rep./Lib.4thThomas F. Riley* Republican MontgomeryDonald A. Campbell* Republican Nassau1stAnthony Barbiero* Republican2ndJoseph F. Carlino* RepublicanMajority Leader3rdGenesta M. Strong* Republican 4thJohn J. Burns* Republicanresigned on September 13, 1957, to run for Supervisor of Oyster BayASSEMBLYMAN RESIGNS; Burns of Oyster Bay Quits to Run for Supervisor in The New York Times on September 14, 1957 (subscription required)Edwin J. Fehrenbach Republicanon November 5, 1957, elected to fill vacancy5thFrancis P. McCloskey* Republican6thPalmer D. Farrington* Republican New York1stWilliam F. Passannante* Dem./Lib.2ndLouis DeSalvio* Democrat 3rdJohn H. Farrell* Dem./Lib.resigned on February 27, 1957, after election to the State SenateFrancis W. Doheny Dem./Lib.on November 5, 1957, elected to fill vacancy4thSamuel A. Spiegel Democrat5thBentley Kassal Dem./Lib.6thJoseph J. Weiser* Dem./Lib.7thDaniel M. Kelly* Dem./Lib.8thArchibald Douglas Jr.* Republican9thJohn R. Brook* Republican10thHerman Katz* Dem./Lib.11thJames C. Thomas* Dem./Lib.died on August 13, 195812thBessie A. Buchanan* Dem./Lib.13thOrest V. Maresca* Dem./Lib.14thKenneth M. Phipps* Dem./Lib.15thWilliam A. Kummer* Democrat16thFrank G. Rossetti* Dem./Lib. Niagara1stHarold H. Altro Republican2ndErnest Curto* Republican Oneida1stDavid R. Townsend Republican2ndWilliam S. Calli* Republican Onondaga1stLawrence M. Rulison* Republican2ndCharles A. Schoeneck Jr.* Republican3rdPhilip R. Chase* Republican OntarioRobert M. Quigley* Republican Orange1stD. Clinton Dominick III* Republican2ndWilson C. Van Duzer* Republican OrleansAlonzo L. Waters* Republican OswegoEdward F. Crawford Republican OtsegoPaul L. Talbot* Republican PutnamWillis H. Stephens* Republican Queens1stThomas V. LaFauci* Dem./Lib.2ndWilliam C. Brennan* Dem./Lib.3rdCharles T. Eckstein* Republican4thFrank R. McGlynn Jr. Dem./Lib.5thWilliam G. Giaccio* Dem./Lib.6thMichael G. Rice* Democrat7thBernard Dubin* Dem./Lib.8thJohn DiLeonardo* Republican9thFred W. Preller* Republican10thLouis Wallach* Dem./Lib.11thAlfred D. Lerner Rep./Lib.12thJ. Lewis Fox* Dem./Lib.13thAnthony P. Savarese Jr.* Republican RensselaerThomas H. Brown* Republican Richmond1stEdward J. Amann Jr.* Republican2ndLucio F. Russo* Republican RocklandRobert Walmsley* Republican St. LawrenceVerner M. Ingram Republican SaratogaJohn L. Ostrander* Republican SchenectadyOswald D. Heck* Republicanre-elected Speaker SchoharieDavid Enders* Republican SchuylerJerry W. Black* Republican SenecaLawrence W. Van Cleef* Republican SteubenCharles D. Henderson Republican Suffolk1stIrving L. Price Jr. Republican2ndPrescott B. Huntington Republican3rdJames R. Grover Jr. Republican SullivanHyman E. Mintz* Rep./Lib. TiogaRichard C. Lounsberry* Republican TompkinsRay S. Ashbery* Republican UlsterKenneth L. Wilson* Republican WarrenStuart F. Hawley* Republican WashingtonWilliam J. Reid* Republican WayneMildred F. Taylor* Republican Westchester1stMalcolm Wilson* Republicanon November 4, 1958, elected Lieutenant Governor2ndFred S. Suthergreen* Republican3rdFrances K. Marlatt* Republican4thHunter Meighan* Republican5thWilliam F. Horan* Republican6thTheodore Hill Jr.* Republican WyomingHarold L. Peet* Republican YatesVernon W. Blodgett* Republican Employees Clerk: Ansley B. Borkowski Sergeant-at-Arms: Raymond J. Roche Deputy Journal Clerk: Maude E. Ten Eyck Notes Sources Members of the New York Senate (1950s) at Political Graveyard Members of the New York Assembly (1950s) at Political Graveyard 171 Category:1957 in New York (state) Category:1958 in New York (state) Category:1957 U.S. legislative sessions Category:1956 U.S. legislative sessions