134th New York State Legislature


The 134th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 4 to October 6, 1911, during the first year of John Alden Dix's governorship, in Albany.

Background

Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1894, re-apportioned in 1906 and 1907, 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 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 Socialist Party, the Independence League, the Prohibition Party and the Socialist Labor Party also nominated tickets.

Elections

The New York state election, 1910, was held on November 8. John Alden Dix and Thomas F. Conway were elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor; both Democrats. Of the other seven statewide elective offices up for election, five were carried by the Democrats, and two cross-endorsed incumbent judges of the Court of Appeals were re-elected. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for governor, was: Democrats 690,000; Republicans 622,000; Socialists 49,000; Independence League 48,000; Prohibition 22,000; and Socialist Labor 6,000.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 4, 1911; and adjourned on October 6.
Daniel D. Frisbie was elected Speaker with 84 votes against 62 for Edwin A. Merritt, Jr..
Robert F. Wagner was elected President pro tempore of the State Senate.
On January 17, the Legislature began proceedings to elect a U.S. Senator from New York for a six-year term beginning on March 4, 1911.
On January 19, Governor of Minnesota Adolph Olson Eberhart addressed the members of the Assembly.
On February 6, Ex-Governor of North Carolina Robert Broadnax Glenn addressed the members of the Assembly.
On February 7, the Legislature elected Abram I. Elkus to succeed Edward Lauterbach as a Regent of the University of the State of New York, for a twelve-year term beginning on April 1, 1911.
On February 8, Daniel E. Sickles, at the time the oldest living former assemblyman, addressed the members of the Assembly.
On March 9, UK Ambassador to the U.S. James Bryce addressed the members of the Senate and Assembly.
During the small hours of March 29, a fire broke out in the New York State Capitol, consuming most of the West Wing, and destroying almost completely the State Library and Archives. The Legislature moved to temporary quarters in the Albany City Hall.
On March 31, after 74 days of deadlock, the Legislature elected New York Supreme Court Justice James A. O'Gorman to succeed U.S. Senator Chauncey M. Depew. Afterwards the Legislature took a recess of two weeks while the Capitol was being repaired.
On April 17, the Legislature met again at the State Capitol to resume the legislative business which had been delayed by the deadlocked U.S. Senate election.
On July 21, the Legislature took a recess, and met again on September 6. Clerk of the Assembly Luke McHenry had become ill, and George R. Van Namee was designated to act as Clerk. McHenry died on September 17, and Van Namee was chosen to succeed to the clerkship.

State Senate

Districts

Members

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Felix J. Sanner, Loren H. White and J. Henry Walters changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
DistrictSenatorPartyNotes
1stJames L. LongDemocrat
2ndDennis J. Harte*Democratre-elected
3rdThomas H. Cullen*Democratre-elected
4thLoring M. Black, Jr.Democrat
5thBarth S. Cronin*Democratre-elected
6thEugene M. Travis*Republicanre-elected
7thThomas C. Harden*Democratre-elected
8thJames F. DuhamelInd. L./Dem.
9thFelix J. Sanner*Democrat
10thJames H. O'BrienDemocrat
11thChristopher D. Sullivan*Democratre-elected
12thTimothy D. Sullivan*Democratre-elected
13thJames D. McClellandDemocrat
14thThomas F. Grady*Democratre-elected
15thThomas J. McManus*Democratre-elected
16thRobert F. Wagner*Democratre-elected; elected President pro tempore
17thJohn G. SaxeDemocrat
18thHenry W. PollockDemocrat
19thJosiah T. Newcomb*Republicanre-elected
20thJames J. Frawley*Democratre-elected
21stStephen J. Stilwell*Democratre-elected
22ndAnthony J. GriffinDemocrat
23rdHoward R. Bayne*Democratre-elected
24thJ. Mayhew Wainwright*Republicanre-elected
25thJohn B. Rose*Republicanre-elected
26thFranklin D. RooseveltDemocrat
27thWilliam P. FieroDemocrat
28thHenry M. SageRepublican
29thVictor M. Allen*Republicanre-elected
30thEdgar T. Brackett*Republicanre-elected; Minority Leader
31stLoren H. White*Democrat
32ndSeth G. Heacock*Republicanre-elected
33rdJames A. Emerson*Republicanre-elected
34thHerbert P. Coats*Republicanre-elected
35thGeorge H. Cobb*Republicanre-elected
36thT. Harvey FerrisDemocrat
37thRalph W. Thomas*Republicanre-elected
38thJ. Henry Walters*Republican
39thHarvey D. Hinman*Republicanre-elected
40thCharles J. Hewitt*Republicanre-elected
41stJohn F. MurtaughDemocrat
42ndFrederick W. Griffith*Republicanre-elected
43rdFrank C. Platt*Republicanre-elected
44thThomas H. BusseyRepublican
45thGeorge F. ArgetsingerRepublican
46thWilliam L. OrmrodRepublican
47thRobert H. GittinsDemocrat
48thFrank M. LoomisDemocrat
49thSamuel J. Ramsperger*Democratre-elected
50thGeorge B. BurdDemocrat
51stCharles Mann Hamilton*Republicanre-elected

Employees

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

Assemblymen

Employees