150th New York State Legislature


The 150th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 5 to March 25, 1927, during the fifth year of Al Smith's second tenure as Governor of New York, in Albany.

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, Kings, Bronx, Erie, Monroe, Queens and Westchester. 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 Socialist Party, the Prohibition Party, the Workers Party and the Socialist Labor Party also nominated tickets.

Elections

The New York state election, 1926, was held on November 2. Governor Al Smith was re-elected. Lieutenant Governor Seymour Lowman was defeated for re-election by Smith's running mate Edwin Corning. Of the other five statewide elective offices, three were carried by Democrats and two by Republicans. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Governor, was: Democrats 1,520,000; Republicans 1,280,000; Socialists 83,000; Prohibition 21,000; Workers 5,500; and Socialist Labor 3,500.
Assemblywoman Rhoda Fox Graves, 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 5, 1927; and adjourned on March 25.
Joseph A. McGinnies was re-elected Speaker.
John Knight was re-elected Temporary President of the State Senate.

State Senate

Districts

Members

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Alfred J. Kennedy, Marcellus H. Evans, John L. Buckley, A. Spencer Feld, John W. Gates, Leon F. Wheatley and Charles A. Freiberg changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on..."
DistrictSenatorPartyNotes
1stGeorge L. Thompson*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Conservation
2ndStephen F. BurkardDemocrat
3rdAlfred J. Kennedy*Democrat
4thPhilip M. Kleinfeld*Democratre-elected
5thDaniel F. Farrell*Democratre-elected
6thMarcellus H. Evans*Democrat
7thJohn A. Hastings*Democratre-elected
8thWilliam L. Love*Democratre-elected
9thCharles E. Russell*Democratre-elected
10thJeremiah F. Twomey*Democratre-elected
11thDaniel J. Carroll*Democratre-elected; died on March 6, 1927
12thElmer F. Quinn*Democratre-elected
13thThomas F. Burchill*Democratre-elected
14thBernard Downing*Democratre-elected; Minority Leader
15thJohn L. Buckley*Democrat
16thThomas I. Sheridan*Democratre-elected
17thAbraham GreenbergDemocratcontested by Courtlandt Nicoll
18thMartin J. Kennedy*Democratre-elected
19thDuncan T. O'Brien*Democratre-elected
20thA. Spencer Feld*Democrat
21stHenry G. Schackno*Democratre-elected
22ndBenjamin Antin*Democratre-elected
23rdJohn J. Dunnigan*Democratre-elected
24thThomas J. Walsh*Democratre-elected
25thWalter W. Westall*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Internal Affairs
26thSeabury C. Mastick*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Taxation and Retrenchment
27thCaleb H. Baumes*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Codes
28thJ. Griswold Webb*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Public Health
29thArthur H. WicksRepublican
30thWilliam T. Byrne*Democratre-elected
31stJohn F. Williams*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Affairs of Villages
32ndThomas C. Brown*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Penal Institutions
33rdHenry E. H. BreretonRepublicanChairman of Commerce and Navigation
34thWarren T. Thayer*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Public Service
35thJeremiah Keck*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Public Printing
36thHenry D. Williams*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Military Affairs;
Chairman of Privileges and Elections
37thPerley A. Pitcher*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Civil Service;
Chairman of Re-Organization of State Government
38thGeorge R. Fearon*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Judiciary
39thJohn W. Gates*Republican
40thB. Roger Wales*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Insurance
41stJames S. Truman*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Labor and Industry
42ndCharles J. Hewitt*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Finance
43rdLeon F. Wheatley*RepublicanChairman of Printed and Engrossed Bills
44thJohn Knight*Republicanre-elected; re-elected Temporary President;
Chairman of Rules
45thJames L. Whitley*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Affairs of Cities
46thHomer E. A. Dick*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Public Education
47thWilliam W. Campbell*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Banks;
Chairman of Re-Apportionment
48thWilliam J. Hickey*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of General Laws
49thLeonard R. Lipowicz*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Canals
50thCharles A. Freiberg*RepublicanChairman of Revision
51stLeigh G. Kirkland*Rep./Soc.re-elected; Chairman of Agriculture

Employees

Assemblymen

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

Employees