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 (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 Law Preservation Party, the Socialist Party, the Communist Party, and the Socialist Labor Party also nominated tickets.

Elections The 1930 New York state election 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 (Rep.), 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.AMITY MARKS CLOSING in The New York Times on April 11, 1931 (subscription required)

Joseph A. McGinnies (Rep.) 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.LEGISLATORS RUSH FIFTY BILLS ON WAY; Both Parties Join to Elect Senator Fearon to Succeed President Pro Tem Knight in The New York Times on April 10, 1931 (subscription required) 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;GOVERNOR CONSIDERS $25,000,000 RELIEF FOR UNEMPLOYMENT in The New York Times on August 25, 1931 (subscription required) and adjourned on September 19. This session was called to enact legislation to provide for emergency unemployment relief.ROOSEVELT DECIDES ON RELIEF HEADS in The New York Times on September 21, 1931 (subscription required)

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 (the)..."; Chairmanships as appointed at the beginning of the session

District Senator Party Notes1stGeorge L. Thompson* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Conservation2ndJoseph D. Nunan Jr.* Democrat3rdFrank B. Hendel* Democrat4thPhilip M. Kleinfeld* Democratre-elected5thJohn J. Howard* Democrat6thMarcellus H. Evans* Democratre-elected7thJohn A. Hastings* Democratre-elected8thWilliam L. Love* Democratre-elected9thHenry L. O'Brien* Democratre-elected10thJeremiah F. Twomey* Democratre-elected11thJames J. Crawford* Democratre-elected12thElmer F. Quinn* Democratre-elected13thThomas F. Burchill* Democratre-elected14thBernard Downing* Democratre-elected; Minority Leader; died on May 25, 193115thJohn L. Buckley* Democratre-elected16thJohn J. McNaboe Democrat17thSamuel H. Hofstadter* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of General Laws18thJohn T. McCall Democrat19thDuncan T. O'Brien* Democratre-elected20thA. Spencer Feld* Democratre-elected21stHenry G. Schackno* Democratre-elected22ndJulius S. Berg* Democrat23rdJohn J. Dunnigan* Democratre-elected; Minority Leader from August 2524thHarry J. Palmer* Democratre-elected25thWalter W. Westall* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Internal Affairs26thSeabury C. Mastick* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Taxation and Retrenchment27thThomas C. Desmond RepublicanChairman of Public Printing28thJ. Griswold Webb* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Public Education29thArthur H. Wicks* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Public Health30thWilliam T. Byrne* Democratre-elected31stJohn F. Williams* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Affairs of Villages32ndAlexander G. Baxter RepublicanChairman of Revision33rdHenry E. H. Brereton* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Civil Service34thWarren T. Thayer* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Public Service35thHenry I. Patrie* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Privileges and Elections 36thSamuel H. Miller Democratcontested by William S. Murray (R); seat vacated on March 31SENATE UNSEATS MILLER OF ONEIDA in The New York Times on April 1, 1931 (subscription required)Charles B. Horton Republicanelected on May 5 to fill vacancyHorton, Republican, Wins State Senate Seat in The New York Times on May 6, 1931 (subscription required)37thPerley A. Pitcher* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Codes38thGeorge R. Fearon* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Judiciary; on April 9, elected Temporary President39thJohn W. Gates* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Labor and Industry40thBert Lord* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Pensions41stFrank A. Frost* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Commerce and Navigation; Chairman of Printed and Engrossed Bills42ndCharles J. Hewitt* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Finance43rdLeon F. Wheatley* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Insurance44thJohn Knight* Republicanre-elected; re-elected Temporary President; Chairman of Rules; on March 30, appointed to the U.S. Court for the Western D. of NYHOOVER PUTS KNIGHT ON FEDERAL BENCH in The New York Times on March 31, 1931 (subscription required)45thCosmo A. Cilano* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Military Affairs46thFred J. Slater* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Penal Institutions47thWilliam W. Campbell* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Banks; Chairman of Re-Apportionment48thWilliam J. Hickey* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Cities49thStephen J. Wojtkowiak* Democratre-elected50thNelson W. Cheney* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Canals51stLeigh G. Kirkland* Republicanre-elected; Chairman of Agriculture

Employees Clerk: A. Miner Wellman

State Assembly

Assemblymen

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