151st New York State Legislature


The 151st New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 4 to March 22, 1928, during the sixth 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 also nominated tickets.

Elections

The New York state election, 1927, was held on November 8. The only statewide elective office up for election was a judgeship on the New York Court of Appeals which was carried by the incumbent Democrat John F. O'Brien who was nominated by the Democrats and endorsed by the Republicans.
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 4, 1928; and adjourned on March 22.
Joseph A. McGinnies was re-elected Speaker.

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*RepublicanChairman of Conservation
2ndStephen F. Burkard*Democrat
3rdAlfred J. Kennedy*Democrat
4thPhilip M. Kleinfeld*Democrat
5thDaniel F. Farrell*Democrat
6thMarcellus H. Evans*Democrat
7thJohn A. Hastings*Democrat
8thWilliam L. Love*Democrat
9thCharles E. Russell*Democrat
10thJeremiah F. Twomey*Democrat
11thLouis J. JacobsonDemocratelected to fill vacancy. in place of Daniel J. Carroll
12thElmer F. Quinn*Democrat
13thThomas F. Burchill*Democrat
14thBernard Downing*DemocratMinority Leader
15thJohn L. Buckley*Democrat
16thThomas I. Sheridan*Democrat
17thAbraham Greenberg*Democratunsuccessfully contested by Courtlandt Nicoll
18thMartin J. Kennedy*Democrat
19thDuncan T. O'Brien*Democrat
20thA. Spencer Feld*Democrat
21stHenry G. Schackno*Democrat
22ndBenjamin Antin*Democrat
23rdJohn J. Dunnigan*Democrat
24thThomas J. Walsh*Democrat
25thWalter W. Westall*RepublicanChairman of Internal Affairs
26thSeabury C. Mastick*RepublicanChairman of Taxation and Retrenchment
27thCaleb H. Baumes*RepublicanChairman of Codes
28thJ. Griswold Webb*RepublicanChairman of Public Health
29thArthur H. Wicks*RepublicanChairman of Revision
30thWilliam T. Byrne*Democrat
31stJohn F. Williams*RepublicanChairman of Affairs of Villages
32ndThomas C. Brown*RepublicanChairman of Penal Institutions
33rdHenry E. H. Brereton*RepublicanChairman of Commerce and Navigation
34thWarren T. Thayer*RepublicanChairman of Public Service
35thJeremiah Keck*RepublicanChairman of Public Printing
36thHenry D. Williams*RepublicanChairman of Military Affairs;
Chairman of Privileges and Elections
37thPerley A. Pitcher*RepublicanChairman of Civil Service;
Chairman of Re-Organization of State Government
38thGeorge R. Fearon*RepublicanChairman of Judiciary
39thJohn W. Gates*Republican
40thB. Roger Wales*RepublicanChairman of Insurance
41stJames S. Truman*RepublicanChairman of Labor and Industry
42ndCharles J. Hewitt*RepublicanChairman of Finance
43rdLeon F. Wheatley*RepublicanChairman of Printed and Engrossed Bills
44thJohn Knight*RepublicanTemporary President; Chairman of Rules
45thJames L. Whitley*RepublicanChairman of Affairs of Cities;
on November 6, 1928, elected to the 71st U.S. Congress
46thHomer E. A. Dick*RepublicanChairman of Public Education
47thWilliam W. Campbell*RepublicanChairman of Banks; Chairman of Re-Apportionment
48thWilliam J. Hickey*RepublicanChairman of General Laws
49thLeonard R. Lipowicz*RepublicanChairman of Pensions
50thCharles A. Freiberg*RepublicanChairman of Canals
51stLeigh G. Kirkland*Rep./Soc.Chairman of Agriculture

Employees

Assemblymen

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

Employees