105th New York State Legislature


The 105th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 3 to June 2, 1882, during the third year of Alonzo B. Cornell's governorship, in Albany.

Background

Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1846, 32 Senators and 128 assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts; senators for a two-year term, assemblymen for a one-year term. The senatorial districts were made up of entire counties, except New York County and Kings County. The Assembly districts were made up of entire towns, or city wards, forming a contiguous area, all within the same county.
At this time there were two major political parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The Greenback Party and the Prohibition Party also nominated tickets.

Elections

The 1881 New York state election was held on November 8. Of the statewide elective offices up for election, five were carried by the Republicans and one by a Democrat. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Secretary of State, was: Republican 417,000; Democratic 404,000; Greenback 16,000; and Prohibition 4,500.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 3, 1882; and adjourned on June 2.
The Senate had 15 Republicans, 14 Democrats and 3 Tammany men; the Assembly had 61 Republicans, 59 Democrats and 8 Tammany men. In both Houses, the Tammany men were in a balance of power position, and deadlock ensued. Tammany Boss John Kelly objected to the election of John C. Jacobs as President pro tempore of the State Senate, and the office remained vacant throughout the session.
On February 2, Charles E. Patterson was elected Speaker with 59 votes against 51 for Thomas G. Alvord.
On February 20, John W. Vrooman was re-elected Clerk of the State Senate with the votes of the Tammany men; and the right to appoint the standing committees was transferred to Lt. Gov. George G. Hoskins.

State Senate

Districts

Note: There are now 62 counties in the State of New York. The counties which are not mentioned in this list had not yet been established, or sufficiently organized, the area being included in one or more of the abovementioned counties.

Members

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Charles H. Russell, John W. Browning and Shepard P. Bowen changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
DistrictSenatorPartyNotes
1stJames W. CovertDemocrat
2ndJohn J. KiernanDemocrat
3rdCharles H. Russell*Republican
4thJohn C. Jacobs*Democratre-elected
5thJohn G. BoydTammany
6thThomas F. GradyTammany
7thJames DalyDemocrat
8thJohn W. Browning*Democrat
9thJames FitzgeraldDemocrat
10thJoseph KochDemocrat
11thFrank P. TreanorTammany
12thHenry C. NelsonDemocrat
13thJames MackinDemocrat
14thAddison P. JonesDemocrat
15thHomer A. NelsonDemocrat
16thCharles L. MacArthurRepublican
17thAbraham LansingDemocrat
18thWebster Wagner*Republicanre-elected; died on January 13, 1882
18thAlexander B. BaucusDemocratelected on February 28, to fill vacancy
19thShepard P. Bowen*Republican
20thDolphus S. Lynde*Republicanre-elected
21stFrederick LansingRepublican
22ndRobert H. RobertsDemocrat
23rdAlexander M. HolmesRepublican
24thEdward B. ThomasRepublican
25thDennis McCarthy*Republicanre-elected
26thDavid H. EvansRepublican
27thSumner BaldwinRepublican
28thGeorge P. Lord*Republicanre-elected
29thEdmund L. Pitts*Republicanre-elected
30thTimothy E. EllsworthRepublican
31stRobert C. TitusDemocrat
32ndNorman M. AllenRepublican

Employees

Assemblymen

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued as members of this Legislature.

Employees