137th New York State Legislature


The 137th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 7 to May 20, 1914, while Martin H. Glynn was 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 and the Prohibition Party also nominated tickets.

Elections

The New York state election, 1913, was held on November 4. The only two statewide elective offices up for election were two judgeships on the New York Court of Appeals. Democrat Willard Bartlett was elected Chief Judge, and Republican Frank H. Hiscock was elected an associate judge, which had been cross-endorsed by the Independence League. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Chief Judge, was: Democrats-Independence League 600,000; Republicans 597,000; Progressives 195,000; Socialists 62,000; and Prohibition 17,000.
Ex-Governor William Sulzer who had been impeached, and removed from office in September 1913, was elected on the Progressive ticket to the Assembly.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 7, 1914; and adjourned on March 28.
Thaddeus C. Sweet was elected Speaker with 81 votes against 48 for Al Smith and 21 for Michael Schaap.
John F. Murtaugh was elected Majority Leader of the New York State Senate while Robert F. Wagner continued as President pro tempore of the State Senate and Acting Lieutenant Governor.
On February 25, the Legislature elected Homer D. Call as New York State Treasurer, to fill the vacancy caused by the suicide of John J. Kennedy. Call was elected by a combination of Democrats and Progressives with 98 votes against 96 for Republican William Archer.
The Legislature met for a special session at the State Capitol in Albany on May 4, 1914; and adjourned on May 20. This session was called because the Democratic Senate majority and the Republican Assembly majority were at odds over the State's budget, and did not approve the necessary financial appropriations during the regular session.

State Senate

Districts

Members

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature.
Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on..."
DistrictSenatorPartyNotes
1stThomas H. O'Keefe*Democrat
2ndBernard M. Patten*Democrat
3rdThomas H. Cullen*DemocratChairman of Cities
4thHenry P. Velte*Democrat
5thWilliam J. Heffernan*DemocratChairman of Public Printing
6thWilliam B. Carswell*Democrat
7thDaniel J. Carroll*DemocratChairman of Commerce and Navigation
8thJames F. Duhamel*DemocratChairman of Privileges and Elections
9thFelix J. Sanner*DemocratChairman of Conservation
10thHerman H. Torborg*Democrat
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*DemocratPresident pro tempore
17thWalter R. Herrick*DemocratChairman of Military Affairs
18thHenry W. Pollock*DemocratChairman of Banks
19thGeorge W. Simpson*Democrat
20thJames J. Frawley*DemocratChairman of Finance
21stJohn Davidson*Democrat
22ndAnthony J. Griffin*DemocratChairman of Labor and Industry
23rdGeorge A. Blauvelt*DemocratChairman of Public Education
24thJohn F. Healy*DemocratChairman of Penal Institutions
25thJohn D. Stivers*Republican
26thJames E. Towner*Republican
27thAbraham J. Palmer*Progr./Rep.elected as a Progressive with Republican endorsement, joined
the Republicans after the election of Call as Treasurer
28thHenry M. Sage*Republican
29thJohn W. McKnight*DemocratChairman 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. Brown*RepublicanMinority Leader
36thWilliam D. Peckham*Democrat
37thRalph W. Thomas*Republican
38thJ. Henry Walters*Republican
39thClayton L. Wheeler*DemocratChairman of Affairs of Villages
40thCharles J. Hewitt*Republican
41stJohn F. Murtaugh*DemocratMajority Leader; Chairman 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. Thompson*Republican
48thJohn F. Malone*DemocratChairman of Canals
49thSamuel J. Ramsperger*DemocratChairman of Insurance
50thGottfried H. Wende*DemocratChairman of Revision
51stFrank N. Godfrey*Republican

Employees

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

Assemblymen

Employees