164th New York State Legislature

New York state legislative session February 2025 October 2019 164th January 1, 1943 December 31, 1944 Lt. Gov. Thomas W. Wallace (R), until July 17, 1943;Lt. Gov. Joe R. Hanley [1944] Joe R. Hanley (R) [1943]; Benjamin F. Feinberg (R) [1944] Oswald D. Heck (R) 51 150 Republican (31–20) Republican (90–59–1) 1st January 6 March 26, 1943 2nd January 5 March 18, 1944 3rd October 30, 1944 163rd 165th The 164th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 6, 1943, to October 30, 1944, during the first and second years of Thomas E. Dewey's governorship, in Albany. Background Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1894, re-apportioned in 1917, and amended in 1937, 51 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 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 Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The American Labor Party, the Communist Party, the Socialist Party and the Socialist Labor Party (running under the name of "Industrial Government Party") also nominated tickets. Elections The 1942 New York state election was held on November 3. Thomas E. Dewey and Thomas W. Wallace were elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor, both Republicans. Of the other four statewide elective offices, three were also carried by Republicans, and one by a Democrat with American Labor endorsement. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Governor, was: Republicans 2,149,000; Democrats 1,501,000; American Labor 404,000; Communists 45,000; Socialists 22,000; and Industrial Government 3,500. All four women legislators—State Senator Rhoda Fox Graves (Rep.), of Gouverneur; and Assemblywomen Jane H. Todd (Rep.), of Tarrytown; Edith C. Cheney (Rep.), of Corning; and Mary A. Gillen (Dem.), of Brooklyn—were re-elected. Lt. Gov. Thomas W. Wallace died on July 17, 1943. The 1943 New York state election was held on November 2. Temporary President of the State Senate Joe R. Hanley (Rep.) was elected Lieutenant Governor; and Thomas D. Thacher (Rep.) was elected unopposed to succeed himself as Judge of the New York Court of Appeals. Two vacancies in the State Senate and seven vacancies in the Assembly were filled.LINE-UP UNCHANGED IN THE LEGISLATURE; Seven Vacancies in Assembly and Two in Senate Filled by the Same Parties in The New York Times on November 3, 1943 (subscription required) Sessions The legislature met for the first regular session (the 166th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 6, 1943; and adjourned on March 26.LEGISLATURE ENDS; DEWEY IN CONTROL in The New York Times on March 27, 1943 (subscription required) Oswald D. Heck (Rep.) was re-elected Speaker. Joe R. Hanley (Rep.) was re-elected temporary president of the state Senate. The legislature finally re-apportioned the Senate and Assembly districts. Re-apportionment was overdue since the figures of the 1925 state census had been published, but the Assembly, the Senate and the governor had been at odds over the question ever since. Now, for the first time since then, both houses of the legislature had majorities of the same party of which the governor was a member, all Republican. The Re-Apportionment Bill was introduced in the Legislature on March 8;DEWEY CLEARS WAY ON REDISTRICTING in The New York Times on March 9, 1943 (subscription required) and signed by Gov. Dewey on April 8.DEWEY SIGNS BILL ON APPORTIONMENT in The New York Times on April 9, 1943 (subscription required) The re-apportionment was contested in the courts by the Democrats, but was upheld unanimously by the New York Court of Appeals on November 18, 1943.COURT VALIDATES STATE DISTRICTING in The New York Times on November 19, 1943 (subscription required) The total number of state senators was increased to 56. Chautauqua, Dutchess, Monroe, Oneida, Rensselaer, St. Lawrence, Schenectady and Steuben counties lost one Assembly seat each; and New York County lost seven seats. Kings and Westchester counties gained one seat each; Nassau County gained two; Bronx County gained five; and Queens County gained six seats.see the new distribution of seats: Know Your Legislature in The State Employee (January 1945, Vol. 14, No. 1, pg. 20ff) The legislature met for the second regular session (the 167th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 5, 1944; and adjourned on March 18. Benjamin F. Feinberg (Rep.) was elected Temporary President of the state Senate. The legislature met for a special session at the State Capitol in Albany on October 30, 1944. This session was held to enact an extension of the voting time on the next election day, and to increase the pay for election workers.Voting Time Is Extended 2 Hours; 3 Days Added to War Ballot Limit in The New York Times on October 31, 1944 (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. Floyd E. Anderson changed from the Assembly to the Senate at the beginning of this Legislature. Assemblymen John V. Downey and James A. Corcoran were elected to fill vacancies in the Senate. Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..." District Senator Party Notes1stPerry B. Duryea Sr.* Republican2ndSeymour Halpern* Rep./Am. Labor 3rdPeter T. Farrell* Dem./Am. Laborresigned on August 11, 1943, to run for the Queens Co. CourtJohn V. Downey* Democraton November 2, 1943, elected to fill vacancy4thCarmine J. Marasco* Democraton November 7, 1944, elected to the Kings County Court5thWilliam Kirnan* Democrat6thEdward J. Coughlin* Democrat7thLouis B. Heller Dem./Am. Labor8thSamuel L. Greenberg Democrat 9thDaniel Gutman* Dem./Am. Laborresigned on August 6, 1943, to run for the Municipal CourtGUTMAN QUITS SENATE in The New York Times on August 7, 1943 (subscription required)James A. Corcoran* Democraton November 2, 1943, elected to fill vacancy10thJeremiah F. Twomey* Democrat11thJames J. Crawford* Democrat12thElmer F. Quinn* Democrat13thFrancis J. Mahoney Democrat14thWilliam J. Murray* Dem./Am. Labor15thLester Baum Rep./Am. Labor16thJames G. Donovan Democrat17thFrederic R. Coudert Jr.* Republican18thRichard A. DiCostanzo Rep./Am. Labor19thCharles D. Perry* Democrat20thAlexander A. Falk* Dem./Am. Labor21stLazarus Joseph* Democrat22ndCarl Pack* Democrat23rdJohn J. Dunnigan* DemocratMinority Leader24thRobert S. Bainbridge Republican25thPliny W. Williamson* Republican26thWilliam F. Condon* Republican27thThomas C. Desmond* Rep./Am. Labor28thFrederic H. Bontecou Republican29thArthur H. Wicks* RepublicanChairman of Finance30thJulian B. Erway* Democrat31stClifford C. Hastings* Rep./Am. Laboron June 3, 1944, appointed as Treasurer of Rensselaer Co.32ndGilbert T. Seelye* Republican33rdBenjamin F. Feinberg* Republicanon January 5, 1944, elected Temporary President34thRhoda Fox Graves* Rep./Am. Labor35thFred A. Young* Rep./Dem.36thWilliam H. Hampton* Rep./Am. Labor37thIsaac B. Mitchell* Republican38thG. Frank Wallace* Republican39thWalter W. Stokes* RepublicanChairman of Conservation40thFloyd E. Anderson* Republican41stChauncey B. Hammond* Republican42ndHenry W. Griffith* Republican43rdEarle S. Warner* Republican 44thJoe R. Hanley* Rep./Dem.on January 6, 1943, re-elected Temporary President; on November 2, 1943, elected Lieutenant GovernorAustin W. Erwin Republicanon February 15, 1944, elected to fill vacancyRepublican Gets Hanley Seat in The New York Times on February 16, 1944 (subscription required)45thRodney B. Janes* Republican46thAllen J. Oliver Republican47thWilliam Bewley* Republican48thWalter J. Mahoney* Rep./Am. Labor49thStephen J. Wojtkowiak* Dem./Am. Labor50thCharles O. Burney Jr.* Republican51stGeorge H. Pierce Rep./Dem. Employees Clerk: William S. King Assistant Clerk: Fred J. Slater, died on August 20, 1943 State Assembly Assemblymen Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on (the)..." District Assemblymen Party Notes Albany1stGeorge W. Foy* Democrat2ndMortimer A. Cullen* Democrat3rdJohn McBain* Republican AlleganyWilliam H. MacKenzie* Republican Bronx1stMatthew J. H. McLaughlin* Democrat2ndPatrick J. Fogarty* Democrat3rdArthur Wachtel* Democrat4thIsidore Dollinger* Democrat5thJulius J. Gans* Democrat6thPeter A. Quinn* Democraton November 7, 1944, elected to the 79th U.S. Congress7thLouis Bennett* Democrat8thJohn A. Devany Jr.* Democrat Broome1stRichard H. Knauf Republican2ndOrlo M. Brees* Republican CattaraugusLeo P. Noonan* Republican CayugaJames H. Chase* Republican Chautauqua1stE. Herman Magnuson* Republican2ndHerman B. Graf Republican ChemungHarry J. Tifft* Republican ChenangoIrving M. Ives* RepublicanMajority Leader ClintonLeslie G. Ryan* Rep./Am. Labor ColumbiaFrederick A. Washburn* Republican CortlandHarold L. Creal* Republican DelawareElmer J. Kellam Republican Dutchess1stHoward N. Allen* Rep./Dem.2ndErnest I. Hatfield Republican Erie1stFrank A. Gugino* Republican2ndHarold B. Ehrlich* Rep./Am. Labor3rdWilliam J. Butler Republican4thJohn P. Quinn Dem./Am. Labor5thPhilip V. Baczkowski* Dem./Am. Labor6thJerome C. Kreinheder* Republican7thJustin C. Morgan* Republican8thJohn R. Pillion* Republican EssexSheldon F. Wickes* Republican FranklinWilliam L. Doige* Republican Fulton and HamiltonJoseph R. Younglove* Republican GeneseeHerbert A. Rapp* Republican GreeneWilliam E. Brady* Rep./Am. Labor HerkimerLeo A. Lawrence* Rep./Am. Labor JeffersonRussell Wright* Republican Kings1stLewis W. Olliffe* Rep./Am. Labor2ndLeo F. Rayfiel* Democraton November 7, 1944, elected to the 79th U.S. Congress3rdMary A. Gillen* Democrat4thBernard Austin* Dem./Am. Labor5thJohn R. Starkey* Dem./Am. Labor6thRobert J. Crews* Rep./Am. Labor7thJohn F. Furey* Dem./Am. Labor8thCharles J. Beckinella* Democrat9thEdgar F. Moran* Democrat10thWalter E. Cooke Democrat11thEugene F. Bannigan* Democrat12thJames W. Feely* Democrat13thRalph Schwartz* Dem./Am. Labor14thHarry Gittleson* Democrat15thJohn Smolenski* Democrat16thLouis L. Friedman* Democrat17thFred G. Moritt* Dem./Am. Labor18thIrwin Steingut* Dem./Am. LaborMinority Leader19thMax M. Turshen* Democrat20thRoy H. Rudd* Democrat21stThomas A. Dwyer* Democrat 22ndJames A. Corcoran* Democratresigned on August 6, 1943, to run for the State SenateGUTMAN QUITS SENATE in The New York Times on August 7, 1943 (subscription required)Anthony J. Travia Democraton November 2, 1943, elected to fill vacancy23rdAlfred A. Lama Democrat LewisBenjamin H. Demo* Republican LivingstonJoseph W. Ward* Republican MadisonWheeler Milmoe* RepublicanChairman of Public Education Monroe1stFrank J. Sellmayer Jr.* Republican2ndAbraham Schulman* Republican3rdGeorge T. Manning* Republican4thThomas F. Riley Republican5thWilliam B. Mann* Republican MontgomeryJohn F. Bennison* Republican Nassau1stJohn D. Bennett* Republican2ndWilliam S. Hults Jr. Republican New York1stJohn J. Lamula Republican2ndLouis DeSalvio* Democrat3rdMaurice E. Downing* Democrat4thLeonard Farbstein* Democrat5thOwen McGivern* Democrat6thSidney Moses Democrat7thIrwin D. Davidson* Democrat8thStephen J. Jarema* Democrat9thIra H. Holley* Democrat10thMacNeil Mitchell* Republican11thPatrick H. Sullivan* Democrat12thFrancis X. McGowan Democrat13thJames T. McNamara* Democrat14thWarren J. McCarron* Democrat 15thAbbot Low Moffat* RepublicanChairman of Ways and Means; resigned on August 16, 1943, to accept a post in the U.S. Department of StateAbbot Low Moffat Quits Assembly To Accept State Department Post in The New York Times on August 17, 1943 (subscription required) John R. Brook Republicanon November 2, 1943, elected to fill vacancy16thJohn P. Morrissey* Democrat17thHulan E. Jack* Democrat18thHamlet O. Catenaccio* Republican19thDaniel L. Burrows* Democrat20thFrank G. Rossetti Democrat21stWilliam T. Andrews* Democrat22ndDaniel Flynn* Democrat23rdWilliam J. A. Glancy* Democrat Niagara1stJacob E. Hollinger* Republican2ndHarry D. Suitor* Republican Oneida1stFrank A. Emma* Democrat 2ndWilliam R. Williams* Republicanon November 2, 1943, elected Sheriff of Oneida Co.Harry G. Converse Republicanon November 2, 1943, elected to fill vacancy3rdC. Dean Williams* Republican Onondaga1stLeo W. Breed* Republican2ndGeorge B. Parsons* Republican3rdFrank J. Costello* Republican OntarioHarry R. Marble* Republican Orange1stLee B. Mailler* Republican2ndWilson C. Van Duzer Republican OrleansJohn S. Thompson* Republican OswegoHadwen C. Fuller Republicanresigned on September 21, 1943, to run for the 78th U.S. CongressHenry D. Coville Republicanon November 2, 1943, elected to fill vacancy OtsegoChester T. Backus* Republican PutnamD. Mallory Stephens* Republicanfrom August 18, 1943, Chairman of Ways and MeansAssembly Fiscal Post Goes to D. M. Stephens in The New York Times on August 19, 1943 (subscription required) Queens1stCharles J. Dalzell* Democrat 2ndvacant George F. Torsney (Dem.) was re-elected, but died on December 28, 1942William E. Clancy Democraton March 2, 1943, elected to fill vacancy 3rdJohn V. Downey* Democratresigned on August 19, 1943, to run for the State SenateDOWNEY QUITS ASSEMBLY in The New York Times on August 20, 1943 (subscription required)Maurice Adda Democraton November 2, 1943, elected to fill vacancy4thWilliam F. Bowe Democrat5thJohn H. Ferril* Democrat6thGeorge Archinal* Republican Rensselaer1stJ. Eugene Zimmer* Am. Labor/Rep. 2ndMaurice Whitney* Republicanresigned on April 22, 1943, and joined the armed forcesJohn S. Finch Rep./Am. Laboron November 2, 1943, elected to fill vacancy Richmond1stCharles Bormann* Democrat2ndS. Robert Molinari Republican RocklandRobert Walmsley Republican St. Lawrence1stGrant F. Daniels* Republican2ndAllan P. Sill* Republican SaratogaRichard J. Sherman* Republican Schenectady1stOswald D. Heck* Republicanre-elected Speaker 2ndHarold Armstrong* Republicanresigned on August 21, 1943, to run for Sheriff of Schenectady Co.Armstrong Quits Assembly in The New York Times on August 22, 1943 (subscription required)Wendell C. Wilber Republicanon November 2, 1943, elected to fill vacancy SchoharieArthur L. Parsons* Republican SchuylerEdward K. Corwin Republican SenecaLawrence W. Van Cleef* Republican Steuben1stEdith C. Cheney* Republican2ndWilliam M. Stuart* Republican Suffolk1stEdmund R. Lupton* Republican2ndElisha T. Barrett* Republican SullivanRonald M. Albee Republican TiogaMyron D. Albro* Republican TompkinsStanley C. Shaw* Republican UlsterJohn F. Wadlin* Republican WarrenHarry A. Reoux* RepublicanChairman of Judiciary WashingtonHenry Neddo* Republican WayneHenry V. Wilson* Republican Westchester1stChristopher H. Lawrence* Republican2ndTheodore Hill Jr.* Republican3rdJames E. Owens* Republican4thJane H. Todd* Republican5thMalcolm Wilson* Republicanserved in the U.S. Navy but did not resign his seat WyomingHarold C. Ostertag* Republican YatesFred S. Hollowell* Republican Employees Clerk: Ansley B. Borkowski Notes Sources You and the Legislature in The State Employee (January 1943, Vol. 12, No. 1, pg. 24, 25 and 34) Members of the New York Senate (1940s) at Political Graveyard Members of the New York Assembly (1940s) at Political Graveyard LEGISLATIVE MIRROR, weekly newsletter by Assemblyman Wheeler Milmoe, in the Madison County Leader, of Morrisville, on January 20, 1944 164 State Legislature State Legislature New York State Legislature New York State Legislature