120th New York State Legislature


The 120th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 6 to April 24, 1897, during the first year of Frank S. Black'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 the New York state election, 1895, 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.
At this time there were two major political parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The Democrats were split into two factions: the majority supported Free silver and William Jennings Bryan for U.S. President; a minority supported the Gold standard and John M. Palmer for U.S. President. The Socialist Labor Party, the Prohibition Party, and the People's Party also nominated tickets.

Elections

The New York state election, 1896 was held on November 3. Congressman Frank S. Black was elected Governor; and Timothy L. Woodruff was elected Lieutenant Governor; both Republicans.
The only other statewide elective office up for election was also carried by a Republican. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Governor, was: Republican 788,000; Silver Democrats 570,000; Gold Democrats 27,000; Socialist Labor 18,000; Prohibition 17,000; and People's Party 5,000.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 6, 1897; and adjourned on April 24.
James M. E. O'Grady was elected Speaker with 112 votes against 34 for Daniel E. Finn.
On January 19, the Legislature elected Thomas C. Platt to succeed David B. Hill as U.S. Senator from New York, for a six-year term beginning on March 4, 1897.

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.

Senators

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
1stRichard Higbie*RepublicanChairman of Agriculture
2ndTheodore Koehler*Democrat
3rdFrank Gallagher*Democrat
4thGeorge W. Brush*RepublicanChairman of Public Health
5thMichael J. Coffey*Democrat
6thPeter H. McNulty*Democrat
7thPatrick H. McCarren*Democrat
8thAlbert A. Wray*RepublicanChairman of Public Education
9thJulius L. Wieman*Republican
10thJohn F. Ahearn*Democrat
11thTimothy D. Sullivan*Democrat
12thSamuel J. Foley*Democrat
13thBernard F. Martin*Democrat
14thThomas F. Grady*Democrat
15thFrank D. Pavey*RepublicanChairman of Revision
16thLouis Munzinger*Democrat
17thCharles B. Page*Republican
18thMaurice Featherson*Democrat
19thJohn Ford*Republican
20thJacob A. Cantor*DemocratMinority Leader
21stCharles L. Guy*Democrat
22ndJ. Irving Burns*RepublicanChairman of Insurance
23rdClarence Lexow*RepublicanChairman of Judiciary
24thWilliam C. Daley*Republican
25thCharles Davis*Republican
26thJohn GrantRepublicanelected to fill vacancy, in place of James Ballantine;
Chairman of Public Printing
27thHobart Krum*RepublicanChairman of Forest, Fish and Game Laws
28thEdgar T. Brackett*RepublicanChairman of Affairs of Villages
29thMyer Nussbaum*RepublicanChairman of Privileges and Elections
30thLeGrand C. Tibbits*Republican
31stGeorge Chahoon*RepublicanChairman of Trades and Manufactures
32ndGeorge R. Malby*RepublicanChairman of Codes
33rdWalter L. Brown*RepublicanChairman of Miscellaneous Corporations
34thHenry J. Coggeshall*Ind. Rep.
35thJoseph Mullin*RepublicanChairman of Finance; died on September 1, 1897
36thHorace White*RepublicanChairman of Printed and Engrossed Bills
37thNevada N. Stranahan*RepublicanChairman of Affairs of Cities
38thWilliam Elting Johnson*RepublicanChairman of Military Affairs
39thBenjamin M. Wilcox*RepublicanChairman of Penal Institutions
40thEdwin C. Stewart*RepublicanChairman of Internal Affairs of Towns and Counties
41stJohn S. Sheppard*RepublicanChairman of Roads and Bridges
42ndJohn Raines*RepublicanChairman of Railroads
43rdCornelius R. Parsons*RepublicanChairman of Commerce and Navigation
44thHenry Harrison*Republican
45thTimothy E. Ellsworth*RepublicanPresident pro tempore; Chairman of Rules
46thLester H. Humphrey*RepublicanChairman of Banks
47thCharles Lamy*RepublicanChairman of Canals
48thSimon Seibert*Republican
49thGeorge Allen Davis*RepublicanChairman of Indian Affairs
50thFrank W. Higgins*RepublicanChairman of Taxation and Retrenchment

Employees

Assemblymen

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

Employees