The Legislature met for the regular session at the State Capitol in
Albany on January 3, 1917; and adjourned on May 10.
Thaddeus C. Sweet (R) was re-elected
Speaker.
Elon R. Brown (R) was re-elected Temporary President of the State Senate. The Legislature redistricted the Senate seats, and re-apportioned the number of assemblymen per county.
Bronx County—which had been part of New York County at the time of the previous apportionment and occupied roughly the area of four Assembly districts—was properly separated, and was apportioned eight seats. New York County (without the Bronx) lost eight seats; and Erie, Jefferson and Ulster counties lost one seat each. Queens County gained two seats; and Broome, Nassau, Richmond, Schenectady and Westchester counties gained one seat each. The Legislature met for a special session at the State Capitol in Albany on July 31, 1917. This session was called to enact food control legislation, which would regulate the seizure and shipping of food to the Allies in Europe, helping them with their war effort against Germany during
World War I. On August 24, the Food Control Bill was passed by the Legislature. The bill established a three-member Food Control Commission. The Legislature took a recess until September 6. On September 7, the State Senate rejected the nomination of
George Walbridge Perkins as Chairman of the Food Control Commission, and took a recess until September 25. On October 2, the State Senate rejected again the nomination of Perkins; and then confirmed the appointment of
John Mitchell,
Jacob Gould Schurman and
Charles A. Wieting to the Food Control Commission. The Legislature then adjourned
sine die. ==State Senate==