105th New York State Legislature

105th New York State Legislature
← 104th 106th →
New York State Capitol (2009)
Overview
Legislative body	New York State Legislature
Jurisdiction	New York, United States
Term	January 1 – December 31, 1882
Senate
Members	32
President	Lt. Gov. George G. Hoskins (R)
Temporary President	vacant
Party control	unclear[1]
Assembly
Members	128
Speaker	Charles E. Patterson (D)
Party control	Democratic (67-61)
Sessions
1st January 3 – June 2, 1882

The 105th New York State Legislature, consisting of the New York State Senate and the New York State Assembly, met from January 3 to June 2, 1882, during the third year of Alonzo B. Cornell's governorship, in Albany.

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 (seven districts) and Kings County (three districts). The Assembly districts were made up of entire towns, or city wards,^[2] 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 Greenback Party and the Prohibition Party also nominated tickets.

The 1881 New York state election was held on November 8. Of the statewide elective offices up for election, five were carried by the Republicans and one by a Democrat. The approximate party strength at this election, as expressed by the vote for Secretary of State, was: Republican 417,000; Democratic 404,000; Greenback 16,000; and Prohibition 4,500.

The Legislature met for the regular session at the State Capitol in Albany on January 3, 1882; and adjourned on June 2.

The Senate had 15 Republicans, 14 Democrats and 3 Tammany men; the Assembly had 61 Republicans, 59 Democrats and 8 Tammany men. In both Houses, the Tammany men were in a balance of power position, and deadlock ensued. Tammany Boss John Kelly objected to the election of John C. Jacobs as president pro tempore of the State Senate, and the office remained vacant throughout the session.

On February 2, Charles E. Patterson (D) was elected Speaker with 59 votes against 51 for Thomas G. Alvord (R).^[3]

On February 20, John W. Vrooman (R) was re-elected Clerk of the State Senate with the votes of the Tammany men;^[4] and the right to appoint the standing committees was transferred to Lt. Gov. George G. Hoskins (R).^[5]

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.

The asterisk (*) denotes members of the previous Legislature who continued in office as members of this Legislature. Charles H. Russell, John W. Browning and Shepard P. Bowen changed from the Assembly to the Senate.

• Clerk: John W. Vrooman
• Sergeant-at-Arms: John W. Corning
• Doorkeeper: Charles F. Brady
• Stenographer: Hudson C. Tanner

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

• Clerk: Edward M. Johnson, from February 15
• Sergeant-at-Arms: vacant
• Doorkeeper: Henry Wheeler
• Stenographer: James M. Ruso

• Civil List and Constitutional History of the Colony and State of New York compiled by Edgar Albert Werner (1884; see pg. 276 for Senate districts; pg. 291 for senators; pg. 298–304 for Assembly districts; and pg. 380f for assemblymen)
• Sketches of the Members of the Legislature in The Evening Journal Almanac (1882)
• THE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES in The New York Times on February 15, 1882