154th New York State Legislature
| 154th New York State Legislature | |||
 New York State Capitol (2009) |
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| Duration: January 1 – December 31, 1931 | |||
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| President of the State Senate: | Lt. Gov. Herbert H. Lehman (D) | ||
| Temporary President of the State Senate: | John Knight (R), until April 9 George R. Fearon (R), from April 9 |
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| Speaker of the State Assembly: | Joseph A. McGinnies (R) | ||
| Members: | 51 Senators 150 Assemblymen |
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| Senate Majority: | Republican (26–25) | ||
| Assembly Majority: | Republican (80–70) | ||
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| Sessions | |||
| 1st: January 7 – April 10, 1931 2nd: August 25 – September 19, 1931 |
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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.
Contents
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 New York state election, 1930, 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.[1]
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.[2] 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;[3] and adjourned on September 19. This session was called to enact legislation to provide for emergency unemployment relief.[4]
State Senate
Districts
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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 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | George L. Thompson* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Conservation |
| 2nd | Joseph D. Nunan, Jr.* | Democrat | |
| 3rd | Frank B. Hendel* | Democrat | |
| 4th | Philip M. Kleinfeld* | Democrat | re-elected |
| 5th | John J. Howard* | Democrat | |
| 6th | Marcellus H. Evans* | Democrat | re-elected |
| 7th | John A. Hastings* | Democrat | re-elected |
| 8th | William L. Love* | Democrat | re-elected |
| 9th | Henry L. O'Brien* | Democrat | re-elected |
| 10th | Jeremiah F. Twomey* | Democrat | re-elected |
| 11th | James J. Crawford* | Democrat | re-elected |
| 12th | Elmer F. Quinn* | Democrat | re-elected |
| 13th | Thomas F. Burchill* | Democrat | re-elected |
| 14th | Bernard Downing* | Democrat | re-elected; Minority Leader; died on May 25, 1931 |
| 15th | John L. Buckley* | Democrat | re-elected |
| 16th | John J. McNaboe | Democrat | |
| 17th | Samuel H. Hofstadter* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of General Laws |
| 18th | John T. McCall | Democrat | |
| 19th | Duncan T. O'Brien* | Democrat | re-elected |
| 20th | A. Spencer Feld* | Democrat | re-elected |
| 21st | Henry G. Schackno* | Democrat | re-elected |
| 22nd | Julius S. Berg* | Democrat | |
| 23rd | John J. Dunnigan* | Democrat | re-elected; Minority Leader from August 25 |
| 24th | Harry J. Palmer* | Democrat | re-elected |
| 25th | Walter W. Westall* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Internal Affairs |
| 26th | Seabury C. Mastick* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Taxation and Retrenchment |
| 27th | Thomas C. Desmond | Republican | Chairman of Public Printing |
| 28th | J. Griswold Webb* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Public Education |
| 29th | Arthur H. Wicks* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Public Health |
| 30th | William T. Byrne* | Democrat | re-elected |
| 31st | John F. Williams* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Affairs of Villages |
| 32nd | Alexander G. Baxter | Republican | Chairman of Revision |
| 33rd | Henry E. H. Brereton* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Civil Service |
| 34th | Warren T. Thayer* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Public Service |
| 35th | Henry I. Patrie* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Privileges and Elections |
| 36th | Samuel H. Miller | Democrat | contested by William S. Murray (R); seat vacated on March 31[5] |
| Charles B. Horton | Republican | elected on May 5 to fill vacancy[6] | |
| 37th | Perley A. Pitcher* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Codes |
| 38th | George R. Fearon* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Judiciary; on April 9, elected Temporary President |
| 39th | John W. Gates* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Labor and Industry |
| 40th | Bert Lord* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Pensions |
| 41st | Frank A. Frost* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Commerce and Navigation; Chairman of Printed and Engrossed Bills |
| 42nd | Charles J. Hewitt* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Finance |
| 43rd | Leon F. Wheatley* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Insurance |
| 44th | John Knight* | Republican | re-elected; re-elected Temporary President; Chairman of Rules; on March 30, appointed to the U.S. Court for the Western D. of NY[7] |
| 45th | Cosmo A. Cilano* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Military Affairs |
| 46th | Fred J. Slater* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Penal Institutions |
| 47th | William W. Campbell* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Banks; Chairman of Re-Apportionment |
| 48th | William J. Hickey* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Cities |
| 49th | Stephen J. Wojtkowiak* | Democrat | re-elected |
| 50th | Nelson W. Cheney* | Republican | re-elected; Chairman of Canals |
| 51st | Leigh G. Kirkland* | Republican | re-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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany | 1st | John H. Cahill* | Democrat | |
| 2nd | John P. Hayes* | Democrat | ||
| 3rd | Rudolph I. Roulier* | Democrat | ||
| Allegany | Harry E. Goodrich* | Republican | ||
| Bronx | 1st | Nicholas J. Eberhard* | Democrat | |
| 2nd | William F. Smith* | Democrat | ||
| 3rd | Carl Pack | Democrat | ||
| 4th | Herman M. Albert* | Democrat | ||
| 5th | Harry A. Samberg* | Democrat | ||
| 6th | Christopher C. McGrath* | Democrat | ||
| 7th | John F. Reidy* | Democrat | ||
| 8th | John A. Devany, Jr.* | Democrat | ||
| Broome | 1st | Edmund B. Jenks* | Republican | Chairman of Judiciary |
| 2nd | Forman E. Whitcomb* | Republican | Chairman of Cities | |
| Cattaraugus | James W. Riley | Republican | ||
| Cayuga | Fred Lewis Palmer | Republican | ||
| Chautauqua | 1st | Hubert E. V. Porter* | Republican | |
| 2nd | Joseph A. McGinnies* | Republican | re-elected Speaker; Chairman of Rules | |
| Chemung | G. Archie Turner* | Republican | ||
| Chenango | Irving M. Ives* | Republican | ||
| Clinton | Charles D. Munsil* | Republican | ||
| Columbia | Charles S. Fayerweather | Democrat | ||
| Cortland | Irving F. Rice* | Republican | Chairman of Public Education | |
| Delaware | James R. Stevenson* | Republican | ||
| Dutchess | 1st | Howard N. Allen* | Republican | Chairman of Charitable and Religious Societies |
| 2nd | Charles F. Close | Republican | ||
| Erie | 1st | Charles J. Gimbrone* | Republican | Chairman of Aviation |
| 2nd | William L. Marcy, Jr.* | Republican | ||
| 3rd | Frank X. Bernhardt* | Republican | Chairman of Revision | |
| 4th | Anthony J. Canney* | Democrat | ||
| 5th | Edwin L. Kantowski | Democrat | ||
| 6th | Howard W. Dickey* | Republican | Chairman of General Laws | |
| 7th | Arthur L. Swartz* | Republican | ||
| 8th | R. Foster Piper* | Republican | ||
| Essex | Fred L. Porter* | Republican | Chairman of Re-Organization of State Government | |
| Franklin | James A. Latour* | Republican | ||
| Fulton and Hamilton | Eberly Hutchinson* | Republican | Chairman of Ways and Means | |
| Genesee | Charles P. Miller* | Republican | Chairman of Labor and Industries | |
| Greene | Ellis W. Bentley* | Republican | Chairman of Conservation | |
| Herkimer | William J. Thistlethwaite* | Republican | ||
| Jefferson | Jasper W. Cornaire* | Republican | Chairman of Re-Apportionment | |
| Kings | 1st | Crawford W. Hawkins* | Democrat | |
| 2nd | Albert D. Schanzer* | Democrat | ||
| 3rd | Michael J. Gillen* | Democrat | ||
| 4th | George E. Dennen* | Democrat | ||
| 5th | John J. Cooney* | Democrat | ||
| 6th | Jacob J. Schwartzwald* | Democrat | ||
| 7th | William Kirnan | Democrat | ||
| 8th | Luke O'Reilly* | Democrat | ||
| 9th | Daniel McNamara, Jr.* | Democrat | ||
| 10th | William C. McCreery* | Democrat | ||
| 11th | Edward J. Coughlin* | Democrat | ||
| 12th | Edward S. Moran, Jr.* | Democrat | ||
| 13th | William Breitenbach* | Democrat | ||
| 14th | Jacob P. Nathanson* | Democrat | ||
| 15th | Edward P. Doyle* | Democrat | ||
| 16th | Maurice Z. Bungard* | Democrat | ||
| 17th | Robert K. Story, Jr. | Republican | ||
| 18th | Irwin Steingut* | Democrat | Minority Leader | |
| 19th | Jerome G. Ambro* | Democrat | ||
| 20th | Frank A. Miller* | Democrat | died on June 25, 1931 | |
| 21st | Joseph A. Esquirol* | Democrat | ||
| 22nd | Jacob H. Livingston* | Democrat | ||
| 23rd | Albert M. Cohen* | Democrat | ||
| Lewis | Edward M. Sheldon* | Republican | ||
| Livingston | A. Grant Stockweather* | Republican | ||
| Madison | Arthur A. Hartshorn* | Republican | Chairman of Social Welfare | |
| Monroe | 1st | Truman G. Searle* | Republican | |
| 2nd | Harry J. McKay* | Republican | ||
| 3rd | Haskell H. Marks* | Republican | ||
| 4th | Richard L. Saunders* | Republican | ||
| 5th | W. Ray Austin* | Republican | Chairman of Public Health | |
| Montgomery | Rufus Richtmyer* | Republican | ||
| Nassau | 1st | Edwin W. Wallace* | Republican | Chairman of Affairs of Villages |
| 2nd | Edwin R. Lynde* | Republican | ||
| New York | 1st | James J. Dooling* | Democrat | |
| 2nd | Millard E. Theodore* | Democrat | ||
| 3rd | Sylvester A. Dineen* | Democrat | ||
| 4th | Samuel Mandelbaum* | Democrat | ||
| 5th | John F. Killgrew | Democrat | ||
| 6th | Irving D. Neustein | Democrat | ||
| 7th | Saul S. Streit* | Democrat | ||
| 8th | Henry O. Kahan* | Democrat | ||
| 9th | Ira H. Holley* | Democrat | ||
| 10th | Langdon W. Post* | Democrat | ||
| 11th | Patrick H. Sullivan* | Democrat | ||
| 12th | John A. Byrnes* | Democrat | ||
| 13th | William J. Sheldrick | Democrat | ||
| 14th | Joseph T. Higgins* | Democrat | ||
| 15th | Abbot Low Moffat* | Republican | ||
| 16th | William Schwartz* | Democrat | ||
| 17th | Meyer Alterman* | Democrat | ||
| 18th | Sol A. Hyman | Democrat | ||
| 19th | James E. Stephens | Democrat | ||
| 20th | Louis A. Cuvillier* | Democrat | ||
| 21st | David Paris | Democrat | ||
| 22nd | Benjamin B. Mittler* | Democrat | ||
| 23rd | Alexander A. Falk* | Democrat | ||
| Niagara | 1st | Fayette E. Pease* | Republican | |
| 2nd | Roy Hewitt* | Republican | ||
| Oneida | 1st | Mark C. Kelly | Democrat | |
| 2nd | Russell G. Dunmore* | Republican | Majority Leader | |
| 3rd | Walter W. Abbott* | Republican | ||
| Onondaga | 1st | Horace M. Stone* | Republican | Chairman of Insurance |
| 2nd | Willis H. Sargent* | Republican | Chairman of Banks | |
| 3rd | Richard B. Smith* | Republican | Chairman of Public Printing | |
| Ontario | Robert A. Catchpole* | Republican | Chairman of Public Service | |
| Orange | 1st | William J. Lamont | Republican | |
| 2nd | Rainey S. Taylor | Republican | ||
| Orleans | John S. Thompson | Republican | ||
| Oswego | Victor C. Lewis* | Republican | Chairman of Canals | |
| Otsego | Frank M. Smith* | Republican | Chairman of Agriculture | |
| Putnam | D. Mallory Stephens* | Republican | Chairman of Military Affairs | |
| Queens | 1st | John O'Rourke* | Democrat | |
| 2nd | Joseph C. Mulligan | Democrat | ||
| 3rd | Peter T. Farrell* | Democrat | ||
| 4th | James A. Burke | Democrat | ||
| 5th | Maurice A. FitzGerald* | Democrat | ||
| 6th | Frederick L. Zimmerman* | Democrat | ||
| Rensselaer | 1st | Michael F. Breen* | Democrat | |
| 2nd | Maurice Whitney* | Republican | Chairman of Commerce and Navigation | |
| Richmond | 1st | Francis P. Heffernan | Democrat | |
| 2nd | William L. Vaughan* | Democrat | ||
| Rockland | Fred R. Horn, Jr.*[8] | Democrat | ||
| St. Lawrence | 1st | Rhoda Fox Graves* | Republican | Chairwoman of Public Institutions |
| 2nd | Walter L. Pratt* | Republican | Chairman of Taxation and Retrenchment | |
| Saratoga | Burton D. Esmond* | Republican | Chairman of Codes | |
| Schenectady | 1st | Charles W. Merriam* | Republican | |
| 2nd | William W. Wemple, Jr.* | Republican | ||
| Schoharie | Kenneth H. Fake* | Republican | Chairman of Pensions | |
| Schuyler | Jacob W. Winters* | Republican | ||
| Seneca | James D. Pollard* | Republican | ||
| Steuben | 1st | Wilson Messer* | Republican | Chairman of Soldiers' Homes |
| 2nd | James T. Foody* | Republican | ||
| Suffolk | 1st | John G. Downs* | Republican | |
| 2nd | Hamilton F. Potter* | Republican | ||
| Sullivan | William Whittaker | Democrat | ||
| Tioga | Frank G. Miller* | Republican | ||
| Tompkins | James R. Robinson* | Republican | Chairman of Claims | |
| Ulster | Millard Davis* | Republican | ||
| Warren | Harry A. Reoux | Republican | ||
| Washington | Herbert A. Bartholomew* | Republican | Chairman of Internal Affairs | |
| Wayne | Harry A. Tellier* | Republican | Chairman of Excise | |
| Westchester | 1st | Charles H. Hathaway* | Republican | |
| 2nd | Ralph A. Gamble | Republican | ||
| 3rd | Milan E. Goodrich* | Republican | Chairman of Penal Institutions | |
| 4th | Alexander H. Garnjost* | Republican | ||
| 5th | William F. Condon* | Republican | ||
| Wyoming | Joe R. Hanley* | Republican | ||
| Yates | Edwin C. Nutt* | Republican | ||
Employees
- Clerk: Fred W. Hammond
Notes
- ↑ AMITY MARKS CLOSING in the New York Times on April 11, 1931 (subscription required)
- ↑ 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)
- ↑ GOVERNOR CONSIDERS $25,000,000 RELIEF FOR UNEMPLOYMENT in the New York Times on August 25, 1931 (subscription required)
- ↑ ROOSEVELT DECIDES ON RELIEF HEADS in the New York Times on September 21, 1931 (subscription required)
- ↑ SENATE UNSEATS MILLER OF ONEIDA in the New York Times on April 1, 1931 (subscription required)
- ↑ Horton, Republican, Wins State Senate Seat in the New York Times on May 6, 1931 (subscription required)
- ↑ HOOVER PUTS KNIGHT ON FEDERAL BENCH in the New York Times on March 31, 1931 (subscription required)
- ↑ Ferdinand R. Horn, Jr. (born 1897), ran sometimes for office as "Fred R. Horn, Jr."
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)
