161st New York State Legislature


The 161st New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 5 to March 19, 1938, during the sixth year of Herbert H. Lehman'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 American Labor Party and the Socialist Party also nominated tickets. In New York City, a "Trades Union", an "Anti-Communist", and a "City Fusion" ticket were also nominated.

Elections

The New York state election, 1937, was held on November 2. The only statewide elective office up for election was a judgeship on the New York Court of Appeals. The Democratic incumbent, Gov. Herbert H. Lehman's brother Irving Lehman, was re-elected with Republican and American Labor endorsement.
At the same time, an amendment to the State Constitution to increase of the term in office of the members of the New York State Assembly to two years, and of the statewide elected state officers to four years, was accepted. Also, delegates for a Constitutional Convention, to be held later that year after the legislative session, were elected.
Assemblywoman Jane H. Todd, of Tarrytown, was re-elected.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 5, 1938; and adjourned in the evening of March 19.
Oswald D. Heck was re-elected Speaker, with 83 votes against 55 for Irwin Steingut and 4 for Nathaniel M. Minkoff.
The Constitutional Convention met at the State Capitol in Albany on April 5; and adjourned on August 26.

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
2ndJoseph D. Nunan, Jr.*Democratalso a delegate to the Constitutional Convention
3rdPeter T. Farrell*Democrat
4thPhilip M. Kleinfeld*Democratalso a delegate to the Constitutional Convention
5thJohn J. Howard*Democrat
6thEdward J. Coughlin*Democrat
7thJacob J. Schwartzwald*Democrat
8thJoseph A. Esquirol*Democrat
9thJacob H. Livingston*Democratalso a delegate to the Constitutional Convention;
on November 8, 1938, elected to the City Court
10thJeremiah F. Twomey*DemocratChairman of Finance
11thJames J. Crawford*Democrat
12thElmer F. Quinn*Democrat
13thThomas F. Burchill*Democrat
14thWilliam J. Murray*Democrat
15thJohn L. Buckley*Democrat
16thJohn J. McNaboe*Democrat
17thLeon A. Fischel*Democrat
18thJohn T. McCall*Democratalso a delegate to the Constitutional Convention
19thDuncan T. O'Brien*Democratdied on September 14, 1938
20thA. Spencer Feld*DemocratChairman of Public Education
21stLazarus Joseph*Democrat
22ndJulius S. Berg*Democratcommitted suicide on July 20, 1938
23rdJohn J. Dunnigan*DemocratTemporary President;
also a delegate to the Constitutional Convention
24thRae L. Egbert*Democrat
25thPliny W. Williamson*Republican
26thJames A. Garrity*Dem./Am. L.
27thThomas C. Desmond*Republican
28thFrederic H. Bontecou*Republicanalso a delegate to the Constitutional Convention
29thArthur H. Wicks*Republican
30thErastus Corning 2nd*Democrat
31stClifford C. Hastings*Republican
32ndEdwin E. Miller*Republican
33rdBenjamin F. Feinberg*Republicanalso a delegate to the Constitutional Convention
34thRhoda Fox Graves*Republican
35thHarry F. Dunkel*Republican
36thWilliam H. Hampton*Republican
37thPerley A. Pitcher*RepublicanMinority Leader;
also a delegate to the Constitutional Convention
38thFrancis L. McElroy*Dem./Am. L.
39thWalter W. Stokes*Republican
40thRoy M. Page*Republican
41stC. Tracey Stagg*Republican
42ndCharles J. Hewitt*Republican
43rdEarle S. Warner*Republican
44thJoe R. Hanley*Republican
45thEmmett L. Doyle*Dem./Am. L.
46thGeorge F. Rogers*Dem./Am. L.
47thWilliam H. Lee*Republican
48thWalter J. Mahoney*Republican
49thStephen J. Wojtkowiak*Dem./Am. L.
50thNelson W. Cheney*Republican
51stLeigh G. Kirkland*Republican

Employees

Assemblymen

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

Employees