I disagree with the reader who stated that, "Dixon's no worse than the rest." (Readers respond, Jan. 12). For one thing, not all of Baltimore's mayors were thieves. Where's the proof that William Donald Schaeffer and the D'Alesandros stole from the citizens of the city?

It's also difficult for me to follow the logic of allowing someone to receive a hefty pension after a jury found them guilty of a crime. A penalty is usually imposed after a conviction. Where's the penalty in this case? If this is the new way of treating law breakers, take me to a judge.

The former mayor may not have helped write the laws which govern the distribution of pensions to city officials. She might be a fool for not taking advantage of the offer of her full pension in exchange for resigning. The city, however, is making a farce of the old adage "crime doesn't pay."

There would still be racial segregation and no suffrage for women if everyone reasoned that change shouldn't happen because it's always been this way.

Mary F. Kollner, Baltimore

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