155th New York State Legislature


The 155th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 6 to December 14, 1932, during the fourth 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 Socialist Party and the Communist Party also nominated tickets.

Elections

The New York state election, 1931, was held on November 3. No statewide elective offices were up for election.
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 6, 1932; and adjourned on March 11.
Joseph A. McGinnies was re-elected Speaker.
The Legislature met for a special session at the State Capitol in Albany on December 9, 1932; and adjourned on December 14. This session was called to enact legislation to avoid the financial breakdown of New York City which threatened to occur on December 17.

State Senate

Districts

Members

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

Employees

Assemblymen

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

Employees