Full House

The House of Representatives was all set to grow: before it last week was a bill to increase its permanent membership from 435 to 438. Strongly backed by Speaker John McCormack, the measure would have saved for Pennsylvania, Missouri, and McCormack's own Massachusetts one seat each that would otherwise be taken from them as a result of the 1960 census. On the eve of the vote, a poll showed that some 300 House members were ready to go along with the plan.

But then, on the day of decision, the House came tumbling down.

What messed things up was an amendment offered by Pennsylvania Democrat Francis E. ("Tad") Walter. It would have scrapped a redistricting plan already painfully worked out in Pennsylvania, forcing the state to start again from scratch--or run all its Congressmen at large. After hot dispute, the amendment was adopted.

Speaker McCormack, complaining that he did not like the Walter amendment, washed his hands of the whole thing.

Then, by a rousing voice vote, the House sent the bill back to committee. One resuit of the action: John McCormack, who represents a heavily Democratic district in Boston, may have to run at large in Massachusetts, which has been unable to agree on a reapportionment plan.

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