154th New York State Legislature


The 154th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 7 to September 19, 1931, during the third year of Franklin D. Roosevelt's governorship, 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 Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The Law Preservation Party, the Socialist Party, the Communist Party and the Socialist Labor Party also nominated tickets.

Elections

The New York state election, 1930, was held on November 4. Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lieutenant Governor Herbert H. Lehman, both Democrats, were re-elected. Of the other three statewide elective offices, two were carried by Democrats and one by a Republican judge with Democratic endorsement. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Governor, was: Democrats 1,770,000; Republicans 1,045,000; Law Preservation 191,000; Socialists 100,000; Communists 18,000; and Socialist Labor 9,000.
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 7, 1931; and adjourned on April 10.
Joseph A. McGinnies was re-elected Speaker.
John Knight was re-elected Temporary President of the State Senate. He was appointed to the United States District Court for the Western District of New York, and resigned as Temporary President. On April 9, George R. Fearon was elected to succeed. Knight vacated his seat on May 1 when he took office as federal judge. After the ouster of Democrat Samuel H. Miller, the election of Republican Charles B. Horton, and the death of the Democratic minority leader Bernard Downing, the Republicans continued to hold a majority of 26 to 23 in the Senate during the special session, 26 being the minimum number of votes to pass a law.
The Legislature met for a special session at the State Capitol in Albany on August 25, 1931; and adjourned on September 19. This session was called to enact legislation to provide for emergency unemployment relief.

State Senate

Districts

Members

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Joseph D. Nunan Jr, Frank B. Hendel, John J. Howard and Julius S. Berg changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on..."; Chairmanships as appointed at the beginning of the session
DistrictSenatorPartyNotes
1stGeorge L. Thompson*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Conservation
2ndJoseph D. Nunan, Jr.*Democrat
3rdFrank B. Hendel*Democrat
4thPhilip M. Kleinfeld*Democratre-elected
5thJohn J. Howard*Democrat
6thMarcellus H. Evans*Democratre-elected
7thJohn A. Hastings*Democratre-elected
8thWilliam L. Love*Democratre-elected
9thHenry L. O'Brien*Democratre-elected
10thJeremiah F. Twomey*Democratre-elected
11thJames J. Crawford*Democratre-elected
12thElmer F. Quinn*Democratre-elected
13thThomas F. Burchill*Democratre-elected
14thBernard Downing*Democratre-elected; Minority Leader; died on May 25, 1931
15thJohn L. Buckley*Democratre-elected
16thJohn J. McNaboeDemocrat
17thSamuel H. Hofstadter*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of General Laws
18thJohn T. McCallDemocrat
19thDuncan T. O'Brien*Democratre-elected
20thA. Spencer Feld*Democratre-elected
21stHenry G. Schackno*Democratre-elected
22ndJulius S. Berg*Democrat
23rdJohn J. Dunnigan*Democratre-elected; Minority Leader from August 25
24thHarry J. Palmer*Democratre-elected
25thWalter W. Westall*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Internal Affairs
26thSeabury C. Mastick*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Taxation and Retrenchment
27thThomas C. DesmondRepublicanChairman of Public Printing
28thJ. Griswold Webb*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Public Education
29thArthur H. Wicks*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Public Health
30thWilliam T. Byrne*Democratre-elected
31stJohn F. Williams*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Affairs of Villages
32ndAlexander G. BaxterRepublicanChairman of Revision
33rdHenry E. H. Brereton*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Civil Service
34thWarren T. Thayer*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Public Service
35thHenry I. Patrie*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Privileges and Elections
36thSamuel H. MillerDemocratcontested by William S. Murray ; seat vacated on March 31
36thCharles B. HortonRepublicanelected on May 5 to fill vacancy
37thPerley A. Pitcher*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Codes
38thGeorge R. Fearon*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Judiciary;
on April 9, elected Temporary President
39thJohn W. Gates*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Labor and Industry
40thBert Lord*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Pensions
41stFrank A. Frost*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Commerce and Navigation;
Chairman of Printed and Engrossed Bills
42ndCharles J. Hewitt*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Finance
43rdLeon F. Wheatley*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Insurance
44thJohn Knight*Republicanre-elected; re-elected Temporary President; Chairman of Rules;
on March 30, appointed to the U.S. Court for the Western D. of NY
45thCosmo A. Cilano*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Military Affairs
46thFred J. Slater*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Penal Institutions
47thWilliam W. Campbell*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Banks; Chairman of Re-Apportionment
48thWilliam J. Hickey*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Cities
49thStephen J. Wojtkowiak*Democratre-elected
50thNelson W. Cheney*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Canals
51stLeigh G. Kirkland*Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Agriculture

Employees

Assemblymen

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

Employees