AL'S CLEAR.

Comments on the decision of U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno not to appoint an independent counsel to investigate the campaign fund-raising of vice presidential candidate Al Gore. Explanation issued by Reno for her decision; Controversy involving the existence of some handwritten notes, which were taken by an aide of Gore at a 1995 meeting, about hard and soft money; Tradition observed by the Republicans, and which the Democrats violated; Implication of Reno's decision.