Those Lawyers

To the Editors:

You've offered up a challenge in your article on lawyers [April 10]. Grouping any profession into generalities is never satisfactory, but you've certainly hit the most frequently discussed issues in any bar association.

What are the answers?

Beth H. Neiger, Public Relations Director Monroe County Bar Association Rochester

We complain about troublesome dealings with lawyers, but how many of us would prefer to go through the simple process of Red Brigades' kangaroo courts, imposing "proletarian justice" as in the case of Aldo Moro and others?

After all, lawyers, as entrepreneurs, are paramount elements of a free society, and they remain the most effective champions of human rights and liberty.

Ly Hoang Paris

As a prospective law student, I was disappointed but not discouraged by what the future holds for lawyers in relation to reputation and ethics. Are lawyers corrupt? Possibly; but only as corrupt as we allow them to be for our own benefits.

Edward Lucas New York City

It should be clear by now that we are all the victims of lawyers, whether we have to use their services or not. Lawyer-counsels, lawyer-judges and lawyer-legislators produce the rules and regulations the rest of us are required to live by. Then they get rich enforcing those rules and regulations.

Peter K. Dane Los Angeles

Among the most significant factors contributing to the boom in litigation throughout the 1970s is the general population's stubborn litigiousness over even the most mundane issues, coupled with either a tragic inability or an outright refusal to face and solve routine daily problems that should not even require the intervention of third parties, let alone the involvement of our judicial system.

Terrance C. Sullivan, Attorney Atlanta

As the wife, daughter, sister-in-law, niece and cousin of lawyers, and, I hope, the mother of two future ones, I am insulted, annoyed, disgusted, unhappy, mad and furious at your coverage of the state of the legal profession in America.

The legal tradition established in our family has been a long and distinguished one of unselfish service to our community.

Rosalie A. Riccio Amsterdam, N. Y.

After being victimized by lawyers for the past three years, I do not think it would be hard to live without them. I know it is not possible in my lifetime, but surely I won't find any in heaven.

Patricia Stickel Wheeling, W. Va.

Your article on lawyers was refreshing. As physicians are threatened daily by legal vultures from private, government and consumer sectors, I enjoyed seeing the shoe on the other foot.

Sam J. Sugar, M.D. Evanston, Ill.

Inflation, a Crime

Thank you for Marshall Loeb's cogent Essay on inflation [April 10]. I'm more than willing to make the sacrifices and cast the votes to give Loeb's proposals a chance.

I feel more and more that inflationary federal economic policies are a crime against taxpayers, robbing us of our earnings, our buying power, our investment opportunities and our standard of living. We consider pickpocketing illegal; can inflationary Government actions be any less culpable?

George V. Vinson Denair, Calif.

I am astounded that your Essay can address the question of battling inflation without mentioning our enormous military budget. TIME is daydreaming to expect any significant progress in combatting inflation without important cuts in that swiller of federal money.

Morris H. Crawford Alexandria, Va.

In your "Ten Ways to Cut Inflation," you fail to mention the most effective way to deal with the problem. Inflation, the result of too much money relative to the amount of goods produced, can be curtailed by a reduction in the rate of growth of the money supply. Without reduced money growth, none of the ten proposals in your Essay would have any effect on the basic rate of inflation. It is the only meaningful way of reducing inflation consistent with the goals of adequate economic growth and full employment.

Lawrence K. Roos, President Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis St. Louis

Ironically, Loeb's multifaceted attack on inflation would have the most deleterious effects on groups with relatively little political clout (i.e., farmers, low-income laborers and the elderly), not the special-interest groups he so deplores.

John Engebretson New Auburn, Wis.

The only problem apparent in your analysis is that none of your suggestions will work. Under the present set of political rules, the fiscally responsible are soon replaced by friendlier, more generous types. The fiscally responsible may win a battle here or there, but they are certain to lose the war.

George Eric Mitzon Severna Park, Md.

Stacy's Day

Your article "Stacy's Day at the Abortion Clinic" [April 10] demonstrates how sad it is that it is so easy to forget the murder of an unborn child with a shopping spree for new shoes and a raincoat.

Cherie Johnson Seattle

It is not easy for a woman to decide to have an abortion; much soul searching is done. It is not an instant, careless decision. To be bombarded with the right-to-life literature and ridicule seems as inhuman as the very process they are trying to prevent.

Judy Astbury Andover, Mass.

Freelancers

As an author for 18 years, I shudder at your revelations about poor rates paid to freelance writers [April 10]. But you omitted the other side. Does every person with the price of a Smith-Corona deserve to be called freelance? The sobering answer: most editors' greatest complaint is that many "writers" don't bother to read a copy of the magazine before submitting articles and wildly miss the publication's slant. So-called freelancers fail to deliver assignments more than 50% of the time and have an awesome record of not meeting deadlines.

Len Buckwalter Weston, Conn.

Your threnody for the financially wrecked freelance-writer industry is accurate. However, I believe you missed the most important problem of the impoverished freelance writer. Rather than the low pay, it is the unprofessional attitude of editors. Queries remain unread for weeks and months. Agreements are reneged on. And there is a growing insistence that writers spend time and money producing an article on speculation, without the flimsiest of guarantees.

Edwin Black National Freelance Editorial Service Chicago

Thanks for your piece on the woeful world of the freelance writer. It's comforting to find that someone knows we're out here, forever (God knows why) hunting and pecking for peanuts. Which leads me to my next point. I've got this great story idea . . .

Carl Classman New York City

The Patriarchate

The article on the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul [April 3] has unfortunately fallen victim to Greek propaganda against Turkey.

The patriarchate continues to enjoy fully all the rights and privileges accorded to it by the law. The fact that this institution has existed in Istanbul with a special status since the conquest of the city by the Turks in 1453 is a living proof of Turkish tolerance and respect for freedom of conscience.

Premier Ecevit has met with the representatives of the patriarchate to hear their complaints about minor local issues and has shown understanding and keen interest. In fact, Turkish authorities have immediately started action to solve these minor problems.

Altemur Kilic,, Minister Plenipotentiary Deputy Permanent Representative of Turkey to the U.N., New York City

Christianity in Turkey may indeed be at its darkest hour, but the whole of Eastern Orthodoxy, with all of its diverse ethnic membership, will live on as it has for the past 1,900 years.

Pete George Fotos Morgantown, W. Va.

Defending the Amendment

In the article "Halftime Confidence on Panama" [April 3], you label as absurd an amendment I introduced to the Panama Canal treaty.

While you quoted portions of Senator Moynihan's attack on me and my amendment, you failed to mention a single favorable argument or the fact that 36 other Senators saw fit to support it. It is not absurd for the U.S. to establish a simple, legal basis from which to operate should Panama abrogate the treaty. Both Panamanians and Americans deserve to know what standard will apply if the treaty is not upheld. My amendment made it clear that if Panama goes back on this agreement, all other agreements and treaties we had with the Panamanians would re-enter into force.

Malcolm Wallop U.S. Senator, Wyoming Washington, D.C.

Mayor Kucinich

To hell with Cleveland's Mayor Dennis Kucinich's [April 10] alleged power abuses. Any mayor who has seen Star Wars six times deserves to be recalled, or at least have his comic books taken away from him.

Dwight Morgan Akron

I was pleased to see my fair city featured in TIME. Perhaps Mayor Kucinich realizes that Cleveland is only noticed when it provides incidents to reaffirm its status as a national joke.

Robert Manning Cleveland

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