160th New York State Legislature


The 160th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 6 to May 8, 1937, during the fifth year of Herbert H. Lehman's governorship, in Albany.

Background

Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1894, re-apportioned in 1917, 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 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 New York, Kings, Bronx, Erie, Monroe, Queens and Westchester. The Assembly districts were made up of contiguous area, all within the same county.
At this time there were two major political parties: the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. The Socialist Party and the Communist Party also nominated tickets. The American Labor Party appeared for the first time on the ballot, but only endorsed Gov. Herbert H. Lehman, and made no other nominations on the state ticket.

Elections

The New York state election, 1936, was held on November 3. Governor Herbert H. Lehman and Lieutenant Governor M. William Bray were re-elected, both Democrats. The other five statewide elective offices were also carried by the Democrats. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Governor, was: Democrats 2,708,000; Republicans 2,450,000; American Labor 262,000; Socialists 87,000; and Communists 36,000.
All three women legislators were re-elected: State Senator Rhoda Fox Graves, of Gouverneur, a former school teacher who after her marriage became active in women's organisations and politics; and Assemblywomen Doris I. Byrne, a lawyer from the Bronx, and Jane H. Todd, of Tarrytown.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 6, 1937; and adjourned on May 8.
John J. Dunnigan was re-elected Temporary President of the State Senate.
At the opening of the session, eight Republican assemblymen refused to re-elect Speaker Irving M. Ives because of the latter's opposition to Gov. Lehman's relief legislation during the previous session. After a week of deadlock, on January 12, Majority Leader Oswald D. Heck was elected Speaker with 72 votes against 67 for Irwin Steingut. Heck then appointed Ives as Majority Leader.

State Senate

Districts

Members

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Peter T. Farrell and Erastus Corning 2nd changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on..."
DistrictSenatorPartyNotes
1stGeorge L. Thompson*Republicanre-elected
2ndJoseph D. Nunan, Jr.*Democratre-elected
3rdPeter T. Farrell*Democrat
4thPhilip M. Kleinfeld*Democratre-elected
5thJohn J. Howard*Democratre-elected
6thEdward J. Coughlin*Democratre-elected
7thJacob J. Schwartzwald*Democratre-elected
8thJoseph A. Esquirol*Democratre-elected
9thJacob H. Livingston*Democratre-elected
10thJeremiah F. Twomey*Democratre-elected; Chairman of Finance
11thJames J. Crawford*Democratre-elected
12thElmer F. Quinn*Democratre-elected
13thThomas F. Burchill*Democratre-elected
14thWilliam J. MurrayDemocrat
15thJohn L. Buckley*Democratre-elected
16thJohn J. McNaboe*Democratre-elected
17thLeon A. FischelDemocrat
18thJohn T. McCall*Democratre-elected
19thDuncan T. O'Brien*Democratre-elected
20thA. Spencer Feld*Democratre-elected
21stLazarus Joseph*Democratre-elected
22ndJulius S. Berg*Democratre-elected
23rdJohn J. Dunnigan*Democratre-elected; re-elected Temporary President
24thRae L. Egbert*Democratre-elected
25thPliny W. Williamson*Republicanre-elected
26thJames A. Garrity*Dem./Am. L.re-elected
27thThomas C. Desmond*Republicanre-elected
28thFrederic H. Bontecou*Republicanre-elected
29thArthur H. Wicks*Republicanre-elected
30thErastus Corning 2nd*Democrat
31stClifford C. HastingsRepublican
32ndEdwin E. Miller*Republicanre-elected
33rdBenjamin F. Feinberg*Republicanre-elected
34thRhoda Fox Graves*Republicanre-elected
35thHarry F. Dunkel*Republicanre-elected
36thWilliam H. Hampton*Republicanre-elected
37thPerley A. Pitcher*Republicanre-elected; Minority Leader
38thFrancis L. McElroyDem./Am. L.
39thWalter W. Stokes*Republicanre-elected
40thRoy M. PageRepublican
41stC. Tracey Stagg*Republicanre-elected
42ndCharles J. Hewitt*Republicanre-elected
43rdEarle S. Warner*Republicanre-elected
44thJoe R. Hanley*Republicanre-elected
45thEmmett L. DoyleDem./Am. L.
46thGeorge F. RogersDem./Am. L.
47thWilliam H. Lee*Republicanre-elected
48thWalter J. MahoneyRepublican
49thStephen J. Wojtkowiak*Dem./Am. L.re-elected
50thNelson W. Cheney*Republicanre-elected
51stLeigh G. Kirkland*Republicanre-elected

Employees

Assemblymen

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

Employees