136th New York State Legislature


The 136th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 1 to December 12, 1913, while William Sulzer, and then Martin H. Glynn, were Governor of New York, in Albany.

Background

Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1894, re-apportioned in 1906 and 1907, 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 were made up of entire counties, except New York County, Kings County, Erie County and Monroe County. 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 Progressive Party, the Socialist Party, the Independence League, the Prohibition Party and the Socialist Labor Party also nominated tickets.

Elections

The New York state election, 1912, was held on November 5. Congressman William Sulzer and Martin H. Glynn were elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor; both Democrats. The other seven statewide elective offices up for election were also carried by the Democrats. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for governor, was: Democrats 650,000; Republicans 444,000; Progressives-Independence League 393,000; Socialists 57,000; Prohibition 19,000; and Socialist Labor 4,000.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 1, 1913; and adjourned on May 2.
Al Smith was elected Speaker with 102 votes against 42 for Harold J. Hinman and 3 for Michael Schaap.
Robert F. Wagner was re-elected President pro tempore of the State Senate.
The Legislature met for a special session at the State Capitol in Albany on June 16. This session was called by Governor Sulzer to try again to amend the primary election law. Instead, the legislators formed a committee to investigate Sulzer. On August 13, Governor Sulzer was impeached by the Assembly with a vote of 79 to 45. Lt. Gov. Glynn then claimed to be Acting Governor, but was contested by Sulzer. After some days, the courts recognized Glynn as Acting Governor, pending the verdict of the impeachment trial.
The Legislature took a recess on August 28; and met again on September 17.
On September 18, 1913, the New York Court for the Trial of Impeachments met in the Senate chamber at the State Capitol in Albany. The trial ended on October 12 with the conviction, and removal from office, of Governor William Sulzer. Lt. Gov. Martin H. Glynn succeeded to the governor's office for the remainder of the term; and President pro tem Robert F. Wagner became Acting Lieutenant Governor.
The Legislature took a recess on October 22; met again on November 10 and took a recess the same day; met again on December 8; and finally adjourned on December 12. On the last day, a Workmen's Compensation Bill was passed.

State Senate

Districts

Senators

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. John C. Fitzgerald, James A. Foley, John J. Boylan, George A. Blauvelt, John D. Stivers, George H. Whitney, Clayton L. Wheeler, Thomas B. Wilson, John Seeley and Gottfried H. Wende changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on..."
DistrictSenatorPartyNotes
1stThomas H. O'KeefeDemocrat
2ndBernard M. PattenDemocrat
3rdThomas H. Cullen*DemocratChairman of Cities
4thHenry P. VelteDemocrat
5thWilliam J. HeffernanDemocratChairman of Public Printing
6thWilliam B. CarswellDemocrat
7thDaniel J. CarrollDemocratChairman of Commerce and Navigation
8thJames F. Duhamel*DemocratChairman of Privileges and Elections
9thFelix J. Sanner*DemocratChairman of Conservation
10thHerman H. TorborgDemocrat
11thChristopher D. Sullivan*DemocratChairman of Miscellaneous Corporations
12thJohn C. Fitzgerald*Democrat
13thJames D. McClelland*DemocratChairman of Taxation and Retrenchment
14thJames A. Foley*DemocratChairman of Railroads
15thJohn J. Boylan*Democrat
16thRobert F. Wagner*Democratre-elected President pro tempore
17thWalter R. HerrickDemocratChairman of Military Affairs
18thHenry W. Pollock*DemocratChairman of Banks
19thHenry SalantProgr./Ind. L.contested; seat vacated on April 29
19thGeorge W. SimpsonDemocratseated on April 29
20thJames J. Frawley*DemocratChairman of Finance
21stStephen J. Stilwell*DemocratChairman of Codes;
seat vacated on May 24 upon conviction for bribery
21stJohn DavidsonDemocratelected to fill vacancy, took his seat on November 10:
contested by Morris S. Schector
22ndAnthony J. Griffin*DemocratChairman of Labor and Industry
23rdGeorge A. Blauvelt*DemocratChairman of Public Education
24thJohn F. HealyDemocratChairman of Penal Institutions
25thJohn D. Stivers*Republican
26thFranklin D. Roosevelt*DemocratChairman of Agriculture;
resigned on March 17 to become Asst. US Secr. of the Navy
26thJames E. TownerRepublicanelected to fill vacancy, took his seat on December 8
27thAbraham J. PalmerProgr./Rep.
28thHenry M. Sage*Republican
29thJohn W. McKnightDemocratChairman of Printed and Engrossed Bills
30thGeorge H. Whitney*Republican
31stLoren H. White*DemocratChairman of Internal Affairs
32ndSeth G. Heacock*Republican
33rdJames A. Emerson*Republican
34thHerbert P. Coats*Republican
35thElon R. BrownRepublicanMinority Leader
36thWilliam D. PeckhamDemocrat
37thRalph W. Thomas*Republican
38thJ. Henry Walters*Republican
39thClayton L. Wheeler*DemocratChairman of Affairs of Villages
40thCharles J. Hewitt*Republican
41stJohn F. Murtaugh*DemocratChairman of Judiciary
42ndThomas B. Wilson*Republican
43rdJohn Seeley*DemocratChairman of Public Health
44thThomas H. Bussey*Republican
45thGeorge F. Argetsinger*Republican
46thWilliam L. Ormrod*Republican
47thGeorge F. ThompsonRepublican
48thJohn F. MaloneDemocratChairman of Canals
49thSamuel J. Ramsperger*DemocratChairman of Insurance
50thGottfried H. Wende*DemocratChairman of Revision
51stFrank N. GodfreyRepublican

Employees

Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on..."

Assemblymen

Employees