169th New York State Legislature

The 169th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 7, 1953, to June 10, 1954, during the eleventh and twelfth years of Thomas E. Dewey's governorship, in Albany.

169th New York State Legislature
←168th 170th→
Overview
Legislative bodyNew York State Legislature
JurisdictionNew York, United States
TermJanuary 1, 1953 – December 31, 1954
Senate
Members56
PresidentLt. Gov. Frank C. Moore (R), until September 30, 1953
Temporary PresidentArthur H. Wicks (R), until November 18, 1953;
Walter J. Mahoney (R), from November 18, 1953
Party controlRepublican (37–19)
Assembly
Members150
SpeakerOswald D. Heck (R)
Party controlRepublican (97–53)
Sessions
1stJanuary 7 – March 21, 1953
2ndNovember 17 – 18, 1953
3rdJanuary 6 – March 20, 1954
4thJune 10, 1954 –

Background

Under the provisions of the New York Constitution of 1938, re-apportioned in 1943, 56 Senators and 150 assemblymen were elected in single-seat districts for two-year terms. 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 Kings (nine districts), New York (six), Bronx (five), Queens (four), Erie (three), Westchester (three), Monroe (two) and Nassau (two). The Assembly districts consisted either of a single entire county (except Hamilton Co.), or of contiguous area within one county.

At this time there were two major political parties: the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. The Liberal Party, the American Labor Party, the Socialist Workers Party, the Socialist Party and the Socialist Labor Party (running under the name of "Industrial Government Party") also nominated tickets.

Elections

The New York state election, 1952, was held on November 4. The only statewide elective office up for election was carried by the incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Irving M. Ives. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for U.S. Senator, was: Republicans 3,854,000; Democrats 2,522,000; Liberals 490,000; American Labor 105,000; Socialist Workers 4,300; Socialists 3,400; and Industrial Government 2,500.

All five women members of the previous legislature—Assemblywomen Mary A. Gillen (Dem.), of Brooklyn; Janet Hill Gordon (Rep.), a lawyer of Norwich; Genesta M. Strong (Rep.), of Plandome Heights; Mildred F. Taylor (Rep.), a coal dealer of Lyons; and Maude E. Ten Eyck (Rep.), of Manhattan—were re-elected. Ex-Assemblywoman Gladys E. Banks, of the Bronx, was again elected to the Assembly.

The New York state election, 1953, was held on November 3. The only statewide elective office up for election was carried by the incumbent Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals Edmund H. Lewis who had been appointed temporarily to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John T. Loughran. Also, nine amendments to the State Constitution, among them one that required the voter to cast a single joint vote for the candidates for Governor and Lieutenant Governor on any ticket, were approved by the electorate. One vacancy in the State Senate and eight vacancies in the Assembly were filled.[1]

Frances K. Marlatt, a lawyer of Mount Vernon, was elected to fill a vacancy in the Assembly, reaching again the number of seven women in the Assembly.

Sessions

The Legislature met for the first regular session (the 176th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 7, 1953; and adjourned on March 21.[2]

Oswald D. Heck (Rep.) was re-elected Speaker.

Arthur H. Wicks (Rep.) was re-elected Temporary President of the State Senate. On September 30, 1953, Lt. Gov. Frank C. Moore (Rep.) resigned[3] and on October 1, 1953, Wicks became Acting Lieutenant Governor.[4]

The Legislature met for a special session at the State Capitol in Albany on November 17, 1953;[5] and adjourned on the next day. The session was called to enact a new State Senate re-apportionment.[6] On November 18, 1953, Wicks resigned as Temporary President, and Walter J. Mahoney was elected to succeed as Temporary President and Acting Lieutenant Governor.[7]

The Legislature met for the second regular session (the 177th) at the State Capitol in Albany on January 6, 1954; and adjourned on March 20.

The Legislature met for another special session at the State Capitol in Albany on June 10, 1954;[8] and adjourned on the same day.[9] The session was called to enact legislation concerning the Long Island Rail Road, amendments to the new legislative re-apportionment, and the construction of the Moses-Saunders Power Dam.[10]

The Legislature re-apportioned the Senate districts and the number of seats per county. The total number of senators was increased from 56 to 58; Bronx County lost one senatorial seat; and Nassau, Onondaga and Queens counties gained one senatorial seat each. Kings County lost two Assembly seats, and Albany and Bronx counties lost one seat each; Nassau County gained two seats, and Queens and Suffolk counties gained one seat each.[11]

State Senate

Districts

Senators

The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Wheeler Milmoe changed from the Assembly to the Senate at the beginning of this Legislature. Assemblyman Edward P. Larkin was elected to fill a vacancy in the Senate.

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

District Senator Party Notes
1st S. Wentworth Horton* Republican
2nd John D. Bennett* Republican resigned to run for Surrogate of Nassau County
Edward P. Larkin* Republican on November 3, 1953, elected to fill vacancy
3rd William S. Hults, Jr.* Republican
4th Seymour Halpern* Republican
5th Milton Koerner Republican
6th Bernard Tompkins Republican
7th Carlo A. Lanzillotti Republican
8th Thomas J. Cuite Dem./Lib.
9th Harry Gittleson* Dem./Lib.
10th Herbert I. Sorin* Dem./Lib.
11th Fred G. Moritt* Dem./Lib.
12th Samuel L. Greenberg* Dem./Lib.
13th John F. Furey* Dem./Lib.
14th Mario M. DeOptatis* Dem./Lib.
15th Louis L. Friedman* Dem./Lib.
16th William Rosenblatt* Dem./Lib.
17th John G. Macdonald Republican
18th Joseph R. Marro Dem./Lib.
19th Francis J. Mahoney* Dem./Lib. Minority Leader
20th MacNeil Mitchell* Republican
21st Julius A. Archibald Dem./Lib.
22nd Alfred E. Santangelo Dem./Lib.
23rd Joseph Zaretzki* Dem./Lib.
24th John J. Donovan, Jr.* Democrat
25th Arthur Wachtel* Democrat resigned on January 19, 1954,[12] appointed to the Municipal Court
26th Nathaniel T. Helman* Democrat
27th Joseph F. Periconi Republican
28th Francis J. McCaffrey* Democrat
29th William F. Condon* Republican
30th Frank S. McCullough* Republican
31st Pliny W. Williamson* Republican Chairman of Judiciary
32nd Thomas C. Desmond* Republican
33rd Ernest I. Hatfield* Republican
34th Arthur H. Wicks* Republican re-elected Temporary President;
on November 18, 1953, resigned as Temporary President
35th Peter J. Dalessandro* Dem./Lib.
36th Gilbert T. Seelye* Republican
37th Thomas F. Campbell* Rep./Dem.
38th Henry Neddo* Republican
39th Paul D. Graves* Republican on November 27, 1953, appointed to the New York Supreme Court[13]
Robert C. McEwen Republican on January 5, 1954, elected to fill vacancy
40th Walter Van Wiggeren* Republican
41st Fred J. Rath* Republican
42nd Henry A. Wise* Republican
43rd John H. Hughes* Republican
44th Wheeler Milmoe* Rep./Dem.
45th Warren M. Anderson Republican
46th Dutton S. Peterson Rep./Dem.
47th George R. Metcalf* Republican
48th Harry K. Morton Republican
49th Austin W. Erwin* Republican Chairman of Finance, from November 18, 1953
50th George T. Manning* Republican
51st Frank E. Van Lare* Republican
52nd Earl W. Brydges* Republican
53rd Walter J. Mahoney* Republican Chairman of Finance, until November 18, 1953;
on November 18, 1953, elected Temporary President
54th Stanley J. Bauer* Rep./Lib.
55th John H. Cooke* Republican
56th George H. Pierce* Republican

Employees
  • Secretary: William S. King

State Assembly

Assemblymen

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

District Assemblymen Party Notes
Albany 1st D-Cady Herrick 2nd* Dem./Lib.
2nd James J. McGuiness* Dem./Lib.
3rd John W. Tabner Republican
Allegany William H. MacKenzie* Republican Chairman of Ways and Means[14]
Bronx 1st Bernard C. McDonnell* Democrat
2nd Sidney H. Asch Democrat
3rd Edward T. Galloway* Democrat resigned on May 12, 1953, appointed as a City Magistrate
Morris Mohr Democrat on November 3, 1953, elected to fill vacancy
4th Jacob H. Gilbert* Democrat
5th David Ross* Democrat resigned on July 23, 1953, to run for the City Council
Felipe N. Torres Democrat on November 3, 1953, elected to fill vacancy
6th Julius J. Gans* Democrat
7th Louis Peck* Democrat resigned on July 21, 1953[15]
Walter H. Gladwin Democrat on November 3, 1953, elected to fill vacancy
8th John T. Satriale* Democrat
9th George W. Harrington Republican
10th Thomas E. Ferrandina Republican
11th Gladys E. Banks Republican
12th Mitchell J. Sherwin* Democrat
13th William Kapelman* Democrat
Broome 1st Richard H. Knauf* Republican
2nd George L. Ingalls Republican
Cattaraugus Leo P. Noonan* Republican
Cayuga Charles A. Cusick* Republican
Chautauqua E. Herman Magnuson* Republican
Chemung Harry J. Tifft* Republican
Chenango Janet Hill Gordon* Rep./Dem.
Clinton James A. FitzPatrick* Republican
Columbia Willard C. Drumm* Republican
Cortland Louis H. Folmer* Republican
Delaware Edwyn E. Mason Republican
Dutchess Robert Watson Pomeroy* Republican
Erie 1st Thomas J. Runfola* Republican
2nd Justin C. Morgan* Republican Chairman of Judiciary
3rd William J. Butler* Republican
4th Frank J. Caffery* Democrat
5th Philip V. Baczkowski* Democrat resigned on January 5, 1954
John B. Lis Democrat on February 16, 1954, elected to fill vacancy
6th George F. Dannebrock* Republican
7th Julius Volker* Republican
8th William Sadler* Republican
Essex Grant W. Johnson* Republican
Franklin Robert G. Main* Republican
Fulton and Hamilton Joseph R. Younglove* Republican
Genesee John E. Johnson* Republican
Greene William E. Brady* Republican
Herkimer Leo A. Lawrence* Republican
Jefferson Orin S. Wilcox* Republican
Kings 1st Max M. Turshen* Democrat
2nd J. Sidney Levine* Democrat
3rd Mary A. Gillen* Democrat
4th Bernard Austin* Democrat
5th Harry Morr* Democrat resigned on December 24, 1953
John A. Monteleone Democrat on February 16, 1954, elected to fill vacancy
6th John J. Ryan* Democrat
7th Louis Kalish* Democrat
8th Frank Composto* Democrat
9th Frank J. McMullen* Republican
10th Lewis W. Olliffe* Republican
11th Eugene F. Bannigan* Democrat Minority Leader[16]
12th Herbert Samuels* Democrat
13th Lawrence P. Murphy* Democrat
14th Edward S. Lentol* Democrat
15th John Smolenski* Democrat died on May 31, 1953
James J. Amelia Democrat on November 3, 1953, elected to fill vacancy
16th Frank J. Pino* Democrat
17th Bertram L. Baker* Democrat
18th Stanley Steingut Democrat
19th Philip J. Schupler* Democrat resigned on December 28, 1953
Frank S. Samansky Democrat on February 16, 1954, elected to fill vacancy
20th Joseph R. Corso* Democrat
21st Thomas A. Dwyer* Democrat
22nd Anthony J. Travia* Democrat
23rd Alfred A. Lama* Democrat
24th Ben Werbel* Democrat
Lewis Benjamin H. Demo* Republican
Livingston Joseph W. Ward* Republican
Madison Harold I. Tyler Republican
Monroe 1st J. Eugene Goddard* Republican
2nd A. Gould Hatch* Republican
3rd Paul B. Hanks, Jr. Republican
4th Thomas F. Riley Republican
Montgomery Donald A. Campbell* Republican
Nassau 1st Edward P. Larkin Republican resigned on July 7, 1953, to run for the State Senate
John G. Herrmann Republican on November 3, 1953, elected to fill vacancy
2nd Joseph F. Carlino* Republican
3rd Genesta M. Strong* Republican
4th John J. Burns* Republican
New York 1st Maude E. Ten Eyck* Republican
2nd Louis DeSalvio* Democrat
3rd John J. Mangan* Democrat
4th Leonard Farbstein* Democrat
5th Ludwig Teller* Democrat
6th Irving Kirschenbaum Democrat
7th Daniel M. Kelly* Democrat
8th Archibald Douglas, Jr.* Republican
9th John R. Brook* Republican
10th Herman Katz* Democrat
11th James C. Thomas Democrat
12th Leslie T. Turner Democrat
13th Orest V. Maresca* Democrat
14th Hulan E. Jack* Democrat resigned to run for Borough President of Manhattan
Kenneth M. Phipps Democrat on February 16, 1954, elected to fill vacancy
15th Samuel Roman* Republican
16th Louis A. Cioffi* Democrat
Niagara 1st Jacob E. Hollinger* Republican
2nd Ernest Curto* Republican
Oneida 1st Francis J. Alder* Republican
2nd William S. Calli* Republican
Onondaga 1st Searles G. Shultz* Republican
2nd Donald H. Mead* Republican on November 3, 1953, elected Mayor of Syracuse
The seat remained vacant throughout the session of 1954[17]
3rd Lawrence M. Rulison* Republican
Ontario Thompson M. Scoon* Republican died on July 27, 1953
Robert M. Quigley Republican on November 3, 1953, elected to fill vacancy
Orange 1st Lee B. Mailler* Republican Majority Leader
2nd Wilson C. Van Duzer* Republican
Orleans Alonzo L. Waters* Republican
Oswego Henry D. Coville* Republican
Otsego Paul L. Talbot* Republican
Putnam Willis H. Stephens Republican
Queens 1st Thomas V. LaFauci* Democrat
2nd Edward J. Riley Republican
3rd Martin J. Knorr Republican
4th Thomas A. Duffy* Democrat
5th William G. Giaccio* Democrat
6th Vincent L. Pitaro Republican
7th Anthony P. Savarese Jr.* Republican
8th Samuel Rabin* Republican on November 2, 1954, elected to the New York Supreme Court
9th Fred W. Preller* Republican
10th Angelo Graci* Republican
11th Thomas Fitzpatrick* Democrat
12th J. Lewis Fox* Democrat
Rensselaer Thomas H. Brown* Republican
Richmond 1st Edward J. Amann Jr. Republican
2nd Lucio F. Russo Republican
Rockland Robert Walmsley* Republican
St. Lawrence Allan P. Sill* Republican
Saratoga John L. Ostrander* Republican
Schenectady Oswald D. Heck* Republican re-elected Speaker
Schoharie David Enders Republican
Schuyler Jerry W. Black* Republican
Seneca Lawrence W. Van Cleef* Republican
Steuben John D. Young Republican
Suffolk 1st Edmund R. Lupton* Republican
2nd Elisha T. Barrett* Republican
Sullivan Hyman E. Mintz* Republican
Tioga Richard C. Lounsberry Republican
Tompkins Ray S. Ashbery* Republican
Ulster John F. Wadlin* Republican died on April 30, 1953
Kenneth L. Wilson Republican on November 3, 1953, elected to fill vacancy
Warren Stuart F. Hawley* Republican
Washington William J. Reid* Republican
Wayne Mildred F. Taylor* Republican
Westchester 1st Malcolm Wilson* Republican
2nd Edward H. Innet* Republican
3rd Harold D. Toomey* Republican died on March 11, 1953
Frances K. Marlatt Republican on November 3, 1953, elected to fill vacancy
4th Hunter Meighan* Republican
5th William F. Horan Republican
6th Theodore Hill, Jr.* Republican
Wyoming Harold L. Peet* Republican
Yates Vernon W. Blodgett* Republican

Employees

Notes
  1. LEGISLATIVE VOTE PROVIDES NO UPSET in The New York Times on November 4, 1953 (subscription required)
  2. INQUIRY INTO COSTS OF JOB INSURANCE ORDERED BY DEWEY in The New York Times on March 23, 1953 (subscription required)
  3. Moore Quits as Lieutenant Governor in The New York Times on October 1, 1953 (subscription required)
  4. Wicks Is Acting Lieutenant Governor in The New York Times on October 2, 1953 (subscription required)
  5. Senate Controversy Stalls Redistricting in The New York Times on November 18, 1953 (subscription required)
  6. CREWS PLAN FAILS ON REDISTRICTING in The New York Times on November 19, 1953 (subscription required)
  7. WICKS RESIGNS POST AS SENATE LEADER IN COMPROMISE STEP in The New York Times on November 19, 1953 (subscription required)
  8. DEMOCRATS READY FOR L. I. RAIL FIGHT AT SESSION TODAY in The New York Times on June 10, 1954 (subscription required)
  9. POWER PLAN SPED BY NEW STATE LAW in The New York Times on June 11, 1954 (subscription required)
  10. THE LEGISLATURE CALLED in The New York Times on June 8, 1954 (subscription required)
  11. For the new apportionment see Where to Reach Your State Senator Or Assemblyman in Civil Service Leader (January 18, 1955, Vol. XVI, No. 19, pg. 3 and 14)
  12. Elected Public Officials of the Bronx Since 1898 Archived March 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine (2014; pg. 12); the seat remained vacant for the remainder of the session
  13. Dewey Names Senator Graves Supreme Court Justice in The New York Times on November 28, 1953 (subscription required)
  14. COMMITTEE LEADERS NAMED FOR ASSEMBLY in The New York Times on January 13, 1953 (subscription required)
  15. Elected Public Officials of the Bronx Since 1898 Archived March 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine (2014; pg. 21)
  16. DEMOCRATS AFFIRM LEADERS IN ALBANY in The New York Times on January 7, 1953 (subscription required)
  17. Gov. Dewey ordered special elections to be held on February 16, 1954, to fill five vacancies in the Assembly. However, both Republicans and Democrats agreed not to hold a special election in Onondaga County's 2nd district, to save the expense which the election would cost the county; see Senator Tries To Head Off Special Vote in the Daily Sentinel, of Rome, on January 19, 1954

Sources
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