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In his article on the Manhattan district attorney's seizure of two paintings whose ownership is disputed by descendants of Viennese Jewish families [ART, Jan. 19], Robert Hughes described the "impeccable conduct" of the present Austrian government in dealing with the restoration of art stolen by the Nazis. If this were true, that government would applaud and support the seizure, given Austria's rather wretched history of restitution over the past decades. Politically inspired or not, the seizure does have a semblance of morality, an aspect of this affair that Hughes dismisses. This action might, at the very least, force all museums to take a good hard look at the history of their collections. MORLEY SAFER Co-Editor and Correspandent CBS News, 60 Minutes New York City
THE PRIVACY OF U.S. MAIL
Your story on the U.S. Postal Service seriously misstated the facts about the sale of mailing lists [BUSINESS, Jan. 19]. The Postal Service does not sell mailing lists or reveal the names of postal customers. It zealously guards the sanctity of the U.S. mail and the privacy of all mailing customers. By law, we are prohibited from making names or addresses available, and we observe the law to the letter. The marketers of goods and services collect and analyze demographic data for their own marketing efforts. It is these marketers who both buy and sell mailing lists of their customers. KATHLEEN C. MACDONOUGH Manager, Media Relations U.S. Postal Service Washington
In my neighborhood, we don't think the Postal Service is so efficient. We joke that the mail still arrives by burro. Not long ago, it took one of my letters 10 days to go half a mile. Maybe mule train would be better. CINDY BELLINGER Pecos, N.M.
DOBSON'S PROFESSION
In your story on Republican activist Gary Bauer [NATION, Jan. 19], you referred to "radio evangelist Rev. James Dobson." Dr. Dobson is not a minister. He has a Ph.D. in child development from the University of Southern California, where he served as an associate clinical professor of pediatrics for 14 years. He is now president of Focus on the Family, a nonprofit media organization. CHARLES W. JARVIS Executive Vice President Focus on the Family Colorado Springs, Colo.
DRUGS ARE NO JOKE
I was outraged at the stupidity of the Q&A with Willie Nelson [PEOPLE, Jan. 12] in which he was asked about marijuana use and he joked about being stoned. How much crime has to take place in the name of drugs? How many people are pushed over the edge because of drugs? It's no joking matter. DOMINIC HOPPS Valley View, Australia