119th New York State Legislature


The 119th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 1 to April 30, 1896, during the second year of Levi P. Morton's governorship, in Albany.

Background

Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1894, 50 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 were made up of entire counties, except New York County, Kings County, Erie County and Monroe County. The Assembly districts were made up of contiguous area, all within the same county.
At this time there were two major political parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The Prohibition Party, the Socialist Labor Party and the People's Party also nominated tickets.

Elections

The New York state election, 1895 was held on November 5. The state officers and state senators were elected to an exceptional three-year term, so that the election of these officers would be held, beginning in 1898, in even-numbered years, at the same time as the gubernatorial election.
All six statewide elective offices up for election was carried by the Republicans. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Secretary of State, was: Republican 601,000; Democratic 511,000; Prohibition 25,000; Socialist Labor 21,000; and People's Party 7,000.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 1, 1896; and adjourned on April 30.
Hamilton Fish II was re-elected Speaker.
Timothy E. Ellsworth was elected President pro tempore of the State Senate.

State Senate

Districts

Note: There are now 62 counties in the State of New York. The counties which are not mentioned in this list had not yet been established, or sufficiently organized, the area being included in one or more of the abovementioned counties.

Members

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Richard Higbie, Frank Gallagher, George W. Brush, Albert A. Wray, Julius L. Wieman, Samuel J. Foley, Frank D. Pavey, J. Irving Burns, George R. Malby, Benjamin M. Wilcox, Edwin C. Stewart and Simon Seibert changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
DistrictSenatorPartyNotes
1stRichard Higbie*Republican
2ndTheodore KoehlerDemocrat
3rdFrank Gallagher*Democrat
4thGeorge W. Brush*Republican
5thMichael J. Coffey*Democratre-elected
6thPeter H. McNultyDemocrat
7thPatrick H. McCarrenDemocrat
8thAlbert A. Wray*Republican
9thJulius L. Wieman*Republican
10thJohn F. Ahearn*Democratre-elected
11thTimothy D. Sullivan*Democratre-elected
12thSamuel J. Foley*Democrat
13thBernard F. MartinDemocrat
14thThomas F. GradyDemocrat
15thFrank D. Pavey*Republican
16thLouis MunzingerDemocrat
17thCharles B. PageRepublican
18thMaurice FeathersonDemocrat
19thJohn FordRepublican
20thJacob A. Cantor*Democratre-elected; Minority Leader
21stCharles L. Guy*Democratre-elected
22ndJ. Irving Burns*Republican
23rdClarence Lexow*Republicanre-elected
24thWilliam C. DaleyRepublican
25thCharles DavisRepublican
26thJames BallantineRepublicandied on May 4, 1896
27thHobart KrumRepublican
28thEdgar T. BrackettRepublican
29thMyer NussbaumRepublican
30thLeGrand C. TibbitsRepublican
31stGeorge ChahoonRepublican
32ndGeorge R. Malby*Republican
33rdWalter L. BrownRepublican
34thHenry J. Coggeshall*Ind. Rep.re-elected
35thJoseph Mullin*Republicanre-elected
36thHorace WhiteRepublican
37thNevada N. StranahanRepublican
38thWilliam Elting JohnsonRepublican
39thBenjamin M. Wilcox*Republican
40thEdwin C. Stewart*Republican
41stJohn S. SheppardRepublican
42ndJohn Raines*Republicanre-elected
43rdCornelius R. Parsons*Republicanre-elected
44thHenry HarrisonRepublican
45thTimothy E. EllsworthRepublicanelected President pro tempore
46thLester H. HumphreyRepublican
47thCharles Lamy*Republicanre-elected
48thSimon Seibert*Republican
49thGeorge Allen DavisRepublican
50thFrank W. Higgins*Republicanre-elected

Employees

Assemblymen

Employees