126th New York State Legislature


The 126th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 7 to April 23, 1903, during the third year of Benjamin B. Odell, Jr.'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 Social Democratic Party, the Prohibition Party, the Socialist Labor Party, and a "Liberal Democratic" faction also nominated tickets.

Elections

The New York state election, 1902, was held on November 4. Gov. Benjamin B. Odell, Jr. was re-elected; and State Senator Frank W. Higgins was elected Lieutenant Governor; both Republicans. Of the other six statewide elective offices up for election, four were carried by the Republicans and two by the Democrats. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Governor, was: Republicans 665,000; Democrats 656,000; Social Democrats 23,000; Prohibition 20,000; Socialist Labor 16,000; and Liberal Democrats 2,000.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 7, 1903; and adjourned on April 23.
S. Frederick Nixon was re-elected Speaker.
John Raines was elected President pro tempore of the State Senate with 25 votes for and 24 against him. Republican senators Edgar T. Brackett, Walter L. Brown and Nathaniel A. Elsberg voted against Raines.
On January 20, the Legislature re-elected Thomas C. Platt to a second term as U.S. Senator from New York, for a six-year term beginning on March 4, 1903.

State Senate

Districts

Note: In 1897, New York County, Kings County, Richmond County and the Western part of Queens County were consolidated into the present-day City of New York. The Eastern part of Queens County was separated in 1899 as Nassau County. Parts of the 1st and 2nd Assembly districts of Westchester County were annexed by New York City in 1895, and became part of the Borough of the Bronx in 1898.

Members

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Luke A. Keenan, Jotham P. Allds and Albert T. Fancher changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on..."
DistrictSenatorPartyNotes
1stEdwin Bailey, Jr.Democrat
2ndLuke A. Keenan*Democrat
3rdThomas H. Cullen*Democrat
4thThomas C. WhitlockDemocrat
5thJames H. McCabe*Democrat
6thWalter C. BurtonDemocrat
7thPatrick H. McCarren*Democrat
8thHenry Marshall*RepublicanChairman of Insurance
9thJoseph Wagner*Democrat
10thDaniel J. RiordanDemocrat
11thJohn C. FitzgeraldDemocrat
12thSamuel J. Foley*Democrat
13thBernard F. Martin*Democrat
14thThomas F. Grady*DemocratMinority Leader
15thNathaniel A. Elsberg*RepublicanChairman of Codes
16thvacantSenator-elect Patrick F. Trainor died on December 25, 1902
16thPeter J. DoolingDemocratelected on January 27, 1903, to fill vacancy
17thGeorge W. Plunkitt*Democrat
18thVictor J. Dowling*Democrat
19thJohn W. RussellDemocrat
20thJames J. FrawleyDemocrat
21stJohn A. HawkinsDemocrat
22ndCharles P. McClellandDemocratseat vacated on August 21, upon
appointment to the Board of General Appraisers
23rdLouis F. Goodsell*RepublicanChairman of Miscellaneous Corporations
24thHenry S. Ambler*RepublicanChairman of Agriculture
25thFrank J. LefevreRepublicanChairman of Revision
26thJotham P. Allds*Republican
27thSpencer K. WarnickRepublicanChairman of Privileges and Elections
28thEdgar T. Brackett*RepublicanChairman of Judiciary
29thJames B. McEwan*RepublicanChairman of Affairs of Villages
30thWilliam D. Barnes*RepublicanChairman of Penal Institutions
31stSpencer G. Prime*RepublicanChairman of Banks
32ndGeorge R. Malby*RepublicanChairman of Finance
33rdWalter L. BrownRepublicanChairman of Engrossed Bills
34thWilliam TownsendDemocrat
35thElon R. Brown*RepublicanChairman of Forest, Fish and Game
36thHorace White*RepublicanChairman of Affairs of Cities
37thFrancis H. GatesRepublicanChairman of Military Affairs
38thGeorge E. Green*RepublicanChairman of Taxation and Retrenchment
39thBenjamin M. Wilcox*RepublicanChairman of Railroads
40thEdwin C. Stewart*RepublicanChairman of Public Health
41stFranklin D. Sherwood*RepublicanChairman of Public Printing
42ndJohn Raines*Republicanelected President pro tempore; Chairman of Rules
43rdMerton E. Lewis*RepublicanChairman of Public Education
44thWilliam W. Armstrong*RepublicanChairman of Internal Affairs
45thIrving L'HommedieuRepublicanChairman of Trades and Manufactures
46thFrederick C. StevensRepublicanChairman of Roads and Bridges
47thHenry W. Hill*RepublicanChairman of Commerce and Navigation
48thSamuel J. Ramsperger*Democrat
49thGeorge Allen Davis*RepublicanChairman of Canals
50thAlbert T. Fancher*RepublicanChairman of Indian Affairs

Employees

Assemblymen

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

Employees