161st_New_York_State_Legislature

161st New York State Legislature

161st New York State Legislature

New York state legislative session

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.

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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 (nine districts), Kings (eight), Bronx (three), Erie (three), Monroe (two), Queens (two) and Westchester (two). 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 (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Comptroller, Attorney General) 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 (Rep.), 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.[2]

Oswald D. Heck (Rep.) was re-elected Speaker, with 83 votes against 55 for Irwin Steingut (Dem.) and 4 for Nathaniel M. Minkoff (Am. Labor).[3]

The Constitutional Convention met at the State Capitol in Albany on April 5;[4] and adjourned on August 26.[5]

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 (the)..."

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Employees

  • Clerk: James J. Reilly
  • Sergeant-at-Arms: William F. Egloff Jr.
  • Stenographer: Robert Murray

State Assembly

Assemblymen

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

More information District, Assemblymen ...

Employees

Notes

  1. [1]
    Note that the last legislative day of the regular session was March 18, and the New York Red Book gives March 18 as the end of this session. In fact, the adjournment sine die occurred at 6.16 o'clock in the evening of March 19 after a session of 32 hours and 16 minutes, until then the longest session in New York legislative history.
  2. [2]
    LEGISLATURE ENDS IN A RUSH OF BILLS in The New York Times on March 20, 1938 (subscription required)
  3. [3]
    SPEAKER HECK IS RE-ELECTED in The Evening News, of North Tonawanda, on January 5, 1938
  4. [4]
    Crane Pledges Convention To Renewing of Democracy in The New York Times on April 6, 1938 (subscription required)
  5. [5]
    SUBMISSION IN NINE ITEMS VOTED FOR STATE CHARTER; CONVENTION IS ADJOURNED in The New York Times on August 27, 1938 (subscription required)
  6. [6]
    E. S. Moran Jr. of 12th A. D., Brooklyn, Accused of Getting $36,000 From Taxi Concerns in The New York Times on June 25, 1938 (subscription required)

Sources
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