There's no reason to be optimistic a bipartisan commission appointed last week to investigate phantom voting in the Massachusetts House will produce meaningful reform. In fact, given the case at hand, appointing the commission may be a way to avoid doing anything meaningful about it.

Rep. Charles Murphy, D-Burlington, admits he was in the Virgin Islands on April 15, yet somebody pressed his voting button in Boston that day, a violation of House rules. The public interest would be best served if the representative who voted on Murphy's behalf were identified - Murphy says he doesn't know who it was, but Beacon Hill observers are skeptical - and both punished. Public reprimands would be merited at a minimum, but given that phantom votes damage the integrity of the House, the stripping of chairmanships from the offenders would be more appropriate.

But that, as they say, ain't going to happen, at least not while House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi is also beset by allegations that he has helped a few buddies out with legislation that put money in their pockets. The speaker's problems have set off maneuvering by DiMasi rival John Rogers, D-Norwood, and DiMasi lieutenant Robert DeLeo, D-Winthrop, to succeed him in the event that DiMasi is ousted or resigns.

DiMasi issued a letter Monday denying the ethics allegations and indicating he intends to stay on, but the speaker is not in a position to deal swiftly and surely with missteps by House members while he is battling for his survival. Appointing the commission gives the appearance he is addressing the problem, while not alienating supporters with disciplinary measures they might see as a threat to their future conduct at the Statehouse.

While we suspect the investigation is for show, we are hopeful the two local representatives appointed to it get something of value for their efforts. John Lepper, R-Attleboro, and Jay Barrows, R-Mansfield, were named to the panel to meet the requirement that it be bipartisan. Lepper is retiring at the end of this term after 10 years in the House. He will, we are sure, approach the task with balanced reason and make a serious effort to eke out some measure of reform as part of his legacy as Attleboro's state representative.

Barrows is a freshman representative and has a clear view of what's at stake. "This isn't a Democratic or Republican issue. This is an issue of the integrity of the body," he said on the occasion of his appointment to the commission. His stature within the House, or within the state Republican party, but probably not in both, can surely rise if he performs well on the commission.

Both local lawmakers, we're sure, will have a better chance of serving the public interest if they are given public support. Toward that end, the box included with this editorial lists the e-mail addresses of DiMasi, Rogers and DeLeo. We urge readers to contact them regarding the phantom votes issue. Whether you have specific ideas about how the investigation should be handled or general comments on the way business is done in the House, it is important to remind them that the public cares and the public is watching.