136th New York State Legislature

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 (twelve districts), Kings County (eight districts), Erie County (three districts) and Monroe County (two districts). 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 Progressive Party, the Socialist Party, the Independence League, the Prohibition Party and the Socialist Labor Party also nominated tickets.

The New York state election, 1912, was held on November 5. Congressman William Sulzer and Martin H. Glynn were elected Governor and Lieutenant Governor; both Democrats. The other seven statewide elective offices up for election were also carried by the Democrats. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for governor, was: Democrats 650,000; Republicans 444,000; Progressives-Independence League 393,000; Socialists 57,000; Prohibition 19,000; and Socialist Labor 4,000.

The Legislature met for the regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 1, 1913; and adjourned on May 2.

Al Smith (D) was elected Speaker with 102 votes against 42 for Harold J. Hinman (R) and 3 for Michael Schaap (P).

Robert F. Wagner (D) was re-elected President pro tempore of the State Senate.

The Legislature met for a special session at the State Capitol in Albany on June 16.[1] This session was called by Governor Sulzer to try again to amend the primary election law. Instead, the legislators formed a committee to investigate Sulzer.[2] On August 13, Governor Sulzer was impeached by the Assembly with a vote of 79 to 45.[3] Lt. Gov. Glynn then claimed to be Acting Governor, but was contested by Sulzer. After some days, the courts recognized Glynn as Acting Governor, pending the verdict of the impeachment trial.

The Legislature took a recess on August 28;[4] and met again on September 17.

On September 18, 1913, the New York Court for the Trial of Impeachments met in the Senate chamber at the State Capitol in Albany. The trial ended on October 12 with the conviction, and removal from office, of Governor William Sulzer. Lt. Gov. Martin H. Glynn succeeded to the governor's office for the remainder of the term; and President pro tem Robert F. Wagner became Acting Lieutenant Governor.

The Legislature took a recess on October 22; met again on November 10 and took a recess the same day; met again on December 8; and finally adjourned on December 12. On the last day, a Workmen's Compensation Bill was passed.[5]

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

• MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK STATE SENATE (for the next session), in The Cornell Daily Sun (Volume XXXIII, Number 76) on December 21, 1912
• LEGISLATURE WON BY THE DEMOCRATS in NYT on November 6, 1912
• FIGHT AMONG REPUBLICANS in NYT on January 1, 1913
• LEGISLATIVE PLUMS SEIZED BY TAMMANY in NYT on January 7, 1913
• Journal of the Assembly (136th Session) (1913, Vol. I; from January 1 to March 18)
• Journal of the Assembly (136th Session) (1913, Vol. IV; Appendix)
• Proceedings in the Court for the Trial of Impeachments in the Matter of the Impeachment of William Sulzer, Governor of the State (1913)