The resolution was the brainchild of (Jordon C.

The resolution was the brainchild of (Jordon C. Morse, who was then executive director of Common Cause of Virginia.

Morse sold Moss on the idea, and thereafter it quickly picked up support, Kventually both Houses agreed to the resolution, a most unusual outcome for a Common Cause project coming before the Virginia legislature.

Since mid-summer, the panel has held four meetings—one of them a public hearing.

As of this writing, some interesting—and near revolutionary—ideas have emerged which might speed up, as well as open up. the way the Assembly conducts its business. Also problems of mind-boggling complexity have become apparent.

The reform suggestions include the prefiling or much earlier filing of bills, a recess after the measures are introduced to allow a more orderly processing by committees, packaging of ball bills dealing w ith the same subject when they are referred to committee, open and well publicized meetings of committees of conference, as well as open and scheduled meetings of subcommittees.

In addition to these, scores of other suggestions have been received, some thoughtful, some absurd.

"The scope of what this subcommittee is supposed to do." a member told me last w eek, "is spreading like an oil slick!"

If it is. it is spreading over troubled w aters, and it is hardly having a calming effect.

The meetings of the panel up to this point have been marked by considerable sparring and sniping between the House and Senate members. Republicans and Democrats in each chamber join forces in a ferociously bi-partisan show of unity when they see the prerogatives and traditions of their respective bodies threatened with change.

Further complicating the problem is the fact that the panel is not working with public laws, but with the rules of the two Houses. Thus, no matter what reforms the subcommittee recommends, the Rules Committees of the House and Senate, or the bodies