139th New York State Legislature


The 139th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 5 to April 20, 1916, during the second year of Charles S. Whitman's governorship, 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.

Elections

The New York state election, 1915, was held on November 2. No statewide elective offices were up for election. The voters rejected all amendments proposed by the Constitutional Convention of 1915.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 5, 1916; and adjourned on April 20.
Thaddeus C. Sweet was re-elected Speaker, with 94 votes against 45 for Joseph M. Callahan.
On February 8, the Legislature elected three Regents of the University of the State of New York: William Berri to fill the vacancy caused by the death of St. Clair McKelway, for a term to end on April 1, 1917; James Byrne to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Andrew J. Shipman, for a term to end on April 1, 1920; and Walter Guest Kellogg for a term of twelve years, beginning on April 1, 1916.
The Legislature enacted a new apportionment of Senate districts, and the number of assemblymen per county, which became law with the approval by the governor on May 1. The new apportionment was declared unconstitutional by the New York Court of Appeals in July 1916, and the New York state election, 1916, was held under the apportionment of 1907.

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
1stGeorge L. Thompson*Republican
2ndBernard M. Patten*Democrat
3rdThomas H. Cullen*Democrat
4thCharles C. Lockwood*RepublicanChairman of Public Education
5thWilliam J. Heffernan*Democrat
6thWilliam B. Carswell*Democrat
7thDaniel J. Carroll*Democrat
8thAlvah W. Burlingame, Jr.*RepublicanChairman of Revision
9thRobert R. Lawson*RepublicanChairman of Printed and Engrossed Bills
10thAlfred J. Gilchrist*RepublicanChairman of Commerce and Navigation
11thChristopher D. Sullivan*Democraton November 7, 1916, elected to the 65th U.S. Congress
12thHenry W. Doll*Democrat
13thJimmy Walker*Democrat
14thJames A. Foley*Democrat
15thJohn J. Boylan*Democrat
16thRobert F. Wagner*DemocratMinority Leader
17thOgden L. Mills*Rep./Progr.
18thWilliam M. Bennett*Rep./Progr.
19thGeorge W. Simpson*Democrat
20thIrving J. Joseph*Democrat
21stJohn J. Dunnigan*Democrat
22ndJames A. Hamilton*Democrat
23rdGeorge Cromwell*Republican
24thGeorge A. Slater*Republican
25thJohn D. Stivers*RepublicanChairman of Military Affairs
26thJames E. Towner*RepublicanChairman of Insurance
27thCharles W. Walton*Republican
28thHenry M. Sage*RepublicanChairman of Finance
29thGeorge B. WellingtonRepublicanelected to fill vacancy, in place of Walter A. Wood, Jr.;
Chairman of Conservation
30thGeorge H. Whitney*RepublicanChairman of Public Health
31stArden L. Norton*RepublicanChairman of Canals
32ndFranklin W. Cristman*RepublicanChairman of Privileges and Elections
33rdJames A. Emerson*RepublicanChairman of Taxation and Retrenchment
34thN. Monroe Marshall*RepublicanChairman of Banks
35thElon R. Brown*RepublicanTemporary President; Chairman of Rules
36thCharles W. Wicks*Republican
37thSamuel A. Jones*RepublicanChairman of Affairs of Villages
38thJ. Henry Walters*RepublicanChairman of Judiciary
39thWilliam H. Hill*Rep./Progr.
40thCharles J. Hewitt*RepublicanChairman of Internal Affairs
41stMorris S. Halliday*RepublicanChairman of Penal Institutions
42ndThomas B. Wilson*RepublicanChairman of Agriculture
43rdCharles D. Newton*RepublicanChairman of Codes
44thArchie D. Sanders*Republicanon November 7, 1916, elected to the 65th U.S. Congress
45thGeorge F. Argetsinger*RepublicanChairman of Affairs of Cities
46thJohn B. Mullan*RepublicanChairman of Public Printing
47thGeorge F. Thompson*RepublicanChairman of Public Service
48thClinton T. Horton*RepublicanChairman of Civil Service
49thSamuel J. Ramsperger*Democrat
50thWilliam P. Greiner*Democrat
51stGeorge E. Spring*RepublicanChairman of Labor and Industry

Employees

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

Assemblymen

Employees