99th New York State Legislature


The 99th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 4 to May 3, 1876, during the second year of Samuel J. Tilden's governorship, in Albany.

Background

Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1846, 32 Senators and 128 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 and Kings County. The Assembly districts were made up of entire towns, or city wards, forming a 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 also nominated a ticket.

Elections

The New York state election, 1875 was held on November 2. All seven statewide elective offices up for election were carried by the Democrats. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Secretary of State, was: Democratic 390,000; Republican 375,000; and Prohibition 11,000.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the regular session at the Old State Capitol in Albany on January 4, 1876; and adjourned on May 3.
James W. Husted was elected Speaker against Richard U. Sherman.
William H. Robertson was re-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.

Senators

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. L. Bradford Prince, John R. Kennaday, Stephen H. Hammond and Commodore P. Vedder changed from the Assembly to the Senate.
Note: For brevity, the chairmanships omit the words "...the Committee on..."
DistrictSenatorPartyNotes
1stL. Bradford Prince*RepublicanChairman of Privileges and Elections
2ndJohn R. Kennaday*Democrat
3rdJohn C. Jacobs*Democratunsuccessfully contested by James Cavanagh
4thJohn MorrisseyAnti-Tam. Dem.
5thJames W. Booth*RepublicanChairman of Literature; died on September 14, 1876
6thCaspar A. BaadenRepublicanChairman of Public Expenditures
7thJames W. GerardDemocratunsuccessfully contested by William Laimbeer Jr.
8thFrancis M. BixbyAnti-Tam. Dem.
9thWilliam H. Robertson*Republicanre-elected President pro tempore; Chairman of Judiciary
10thDaniel B. St. JohnDemocrat
11thB. Platt CarpenterRepublicanChairman of Retrenchment; and of Villages
12thThomas ColemanRepublicanChairman of Banks; of Public Buildings; and of Grievances
13thHamilton HarrisRepublicanChairman of Finance; and of Joint Library
14thAugustus Schoonmaker, Jr.Democrat
15thWebster Wagner*RepublicanChairman of Public Printing
16thFranklin W. Tobey*RepublicanChairman of Insurance
17thDarius A. MooreRepublicanChairman of Claims; and of Agriculture
18thJames F. StarbuckDemocrat
19thTheodore S. SayreRepublicanChairman of Roads and Bridges; and of Salt
20thDavid P. LoomisDemocrat
21stBenjamin DoolittleRepublicanChairman of Manufactures
22ndDennis McCarthyRepublicanChairman of Charitable and Religious Societies
23rdWilliam C. LamontDemocrat
24thJohn H. Selkreg*RepublicanChairman of Railroads; and of Poor Laws
25thWilliam B. Woodin*RepublicanChairman of Cities; of Engrossed Bills; and of Rules
26thStephen H. Hammond*Democrat
27thGeorge B. Bradley*Democrat
28thWilliam N. EmersonRepublicanChairman of Erection and Division of Towns and Counties; and of Public Health
29thDan H. Cole*RepublicanChairman of Canals
30thAbijah J. Wellman*RepublicanChairman of Militia; and of State Prisons
31stSherman S. RogersRepublicantook his seat on January 11; Chairman of Commerce and Navigation;
resigned to run for Lieutenant Governor of New York
32ndCommodore P. Vedder*Republicanunsuccessfully contested by Judson W. Breed;
Chairman of Indian Affairs; and of Internal Affairs of Towns and Counties

Employees

Assemblymen

The asterisk denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued as members of this Legislature.

Employees