The 171st New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 9, 1957, to March 26, 1958, during the third and fourth years of W. Averell Harriman's governorship, in Albany.

Background Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1938, re-apportioned in 1953, 58 Senators and 150 assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts for two-year terms. 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 Kings (nine districts), New York (six), Queens (five), Bronx (four), Erie (three), Nassau (three), Westchester (three), Monroe (two) and Onondaga (two). The Assembly districts consisted either of a single entire county (except Hamilton Co.), or of contiguous area within one county.

At this time there were two major political parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The Liberal Party also nominated tickets.

Elections The 1956 New York state election was held on November 6. The only statewide elective office up for election was a U.S. Senator from New York. The Republican Attorney General Jacob K. Javits defeated the Democratic/Liberal Mayor of New York Robert F. Wagner Jr. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for U.S. Senator, was: Republicans 3,724,000; Democrats 2,965,000; and Liberals 301,000.

Five of the six women members of the previous legislature—Assemblywomen Bessie A. Buchanan (Dem.), a retired musical actress and dancer of Harlem; Janet Hill Gordon (Rep.), a lawyer of Norwich; Frances K. Marlatt (Rep.), a lawyer of Mount Vernon; Genesta M. Strong (Rep.), of Plandome Heights; and Mildred F. Taylor (Rep.), a coal dealer of Lyons—were re-elected.

The 1957 New York state election was held on November 5. No statewide elective offices were up for election. Three vacancies in the State Senate and three vacancies in the Assembly were filled.Democrats Gain a State Senate Seat; Assembly's Alignment Is Unchanged in The New York Times on November 6, 1957 (subscription required)

Sessions The Legislature met for the first regular session (the 180th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 9, 1957;ALBANY SESSION CONVENES TODAY in The New York Times on January 9, 1957 (subscription required) and adjourned on March 30.COURT PLAN DIES AS LEGISLATURE ENDS ITS SESSION in The New York Times on March 31, 1957 (subscription required)

Oswald D. Heck (Rep.) was re-elected Speaker.

Walter J. Mahoney (Rep.) was re-elected Temporary President of the State Senate.

The Legislature met for a special session at the State Capitol in Albany on June 10, 1957;GOVERNOR SCORED ON EVE OF SESSION in The New York Times on June 10, 1957 (subscription required) and adjourned on June 13.SESSION ADJOURNS ON PASSING 2 BILLS HARRIMAN VETOED in The New York Times on June 14, 1957 (subscription required) This session was called, among other things, to consider legislation concerning worker benefits and telephone rates.HARRIMAN CALL TO LEGISLATURE LISTS 7 SUBJECTS in The New York Times on May 29, 1957 (subscription required)

The Legislature met for the second regular session (the 181st) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 8, 1958;LEGISLATORS FACE ISSUE OF TAX CUT AT OPENING TODAY in The New York Times on January 8, 1958 (subscription required) and adjourned on March 26.LEGISLATURE ENDS; ACCORD REACHED ON COMPENSATION in The New York Times on March 27, 1958 (subscription required)

State Senate

Districts

Senators The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Elisha T. Barrett and Thomas A. Duffy changed from the Assembly to the Senate at the beginning of this Legislature. Assemblymen John H. Farrell and A. Gould Hatch were elected to fill vacancies in the Senate.

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

District Senator Party Notes1stElisha T. Barrett* Republican2ndDaniel G. Albert* Republican3rdWilliam S. Hults Jr.* Republican4thEdward J. Speno* Republican5thWalter G. McGahan* Republican 6thJames J. Crisona* Dem./Lib.on November 5, 1957, elected Borough President of QueensIrving Mosberg Dem./Lib.on January 14, 1958, elected to fill vacancy4 SEATS RETAINED IN SPECIAL RACES in The New York Times on January 15, 1958 (subscription required)7thIrwin Pakula Republican8thThomas A. Duffy Dem./Lib.9thThomas J. Mackell* Dem./Lib.10thHerbert I. Sorin* Dem./Lib.11thWalter E. Cooke* Dem./Lib. 12thFred G. Moritt* Dem./Lib.resigned on September 13, 1957, to run for the Municipal CourtJeremiah B. Bloom Dem./Lib.on November 5, 1957, elected to fill vacancy13thThomas J. Cuite* Dem./Lib.14thWilliam T. Conklin Republican15thFrank J. Pino* Dem./Lib.16thWilliam Rosenblatt* Dem./Lib.17thSamuel L. Greenberg* Dem./Lib.18thHarry Gittleson* Dem./Lib.19thJohn J. Marchi Republican20thMacNeil Mitchell* Republican21stJames Lopez Watson* Dem./Lib.22ndJohn P. Morrissey Dem./Lib.23rdJoseph Zaretzki* Dem./Lib.Minority Leader24thJoseph R. Marro* Dem./Lib. 25thvacant Francis J. Mahoney (D) was re-elected, but died on December 23, 1956John H. Farrell* Dem./Lib.on February 14, 1957, elected to fill vacancyFARRELL ELECTED AS STATE SENATOR in The New York Times on February 15, 1957 (subscription required)26thHarry Kraf* Democrat27thJacob H. Gilbert* Democrat28thNathaniel T. Helman* Democrat29thJoseph F. Periconi Republican30thFrank S. McCullough* Republican31stPliny W. Williamson* RepublicanChairman of Judiciary; died on October 21, 195832ndWilliam F. Condon* Republican33rdThomas C. Desmond* Republican34thE. Ogden Bush Republican35thErnest I. Hatfield* Republican 36thPeter J. Dalessandro* Dem./Lib.resigned on July 10, 1957, to become secretary to Joseph ZaretzkiState Senator Resigns in The New York Times on July 11, 1957 (subscription required)Julian B. Erway Dem./Lib.on November 5, 1957, elected to fill vacancy 37thHenry Neddo* Republicandied on January 11, 1957Albert Berkowitz Republicanon February 14, 1957, elected to fill vacancy 38thThomas F. Campbell* Republicandied on March 7, 1957Owen M. Begley Dem./Lib.on November 5, 1957, elected to fill vacancy39thGilbert T. Seelye* Republican40thRobert C. McEwen* Republican41stWalter Van Wiggeren* Republican42ndFred J. Rath* Republican43rdHenry A. Wise* Republican44thSearles G. Shultz* Republican45thJohn H. Hughes* Republican46thWheeler Milmoe* Republican47thWarren M. Anderson* Republican48thGeorge R. Metcalf* Republican49thHarry K. Morton* Republican50thDutton Peterson* Republican51stFrank E. Van Lare* Republican 52ndvacant George T. Manning (R) was re-elected but died on December 1, 1956A. Gould Hatch* Republicanon February 14, 1957, elected to fill vacancy53rdAustin W. Erwin* RepublicanChairman of Finance54thEarl W. Brydges* Republican55thWalter J. Mahoney* Republicanre-elected Temporary President56thStanley J. Bauer* Republican57thJohn H. Cooke* Republican58thGeorge H. Pierce* Republican

Employees Secretary: William S. King

State Assembly

Assemblymen

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