Alfonse D’Amato

With no early appointments this sunny June 17, I had the leisure to read The Times more closely than usual, and thus glimpsed what many readers might have dismissed: Nestled like a hummingbird’s egg in the very center of Page A4, shielded by splashy shoe ads, multi-column stories and a halftone box, were 4 3/4 inches of an apathetic wire-service report on how that pillar of Republican rectitude, U.S. Sen. Alfonse D’Amato of New York, had scored $37,000 profit in one day on stock dealings in a new issue of a “little-known” company.

If it had been Hillary Clinton’s deal, it would have been on the front page, above the fold, bracketed by a Column One or a “news analysis” sidebar.

Are your editors capable of blushing at your double standards?

JAMES E. BRODHEAD

Sherman Oaks

* Whatever happened to fairness in the press? Contrast the D’Amato story against the report of Hillary Clinton’s commodity earnings; with constant innuendoes about the transactions, it claimed front-page headlines time after time. When the story finally appeared that said “Mrs. Clinton’s Commodity Transactions Called Legal,” it appeared on A30 (May 27). I’m just pointing out the facts. I will leave it to the press to protest that they are not harassing the Clintons.

WILLIAM C. PERKINS

Hollywood

* In regard to D’Amato’s stock deal, I can understand $37,000 profit; that is about $8 a share, which has happened several times.

What I cannot understand is, how did he get 4,500 shares. I’m lucky to get 50 or 100 in any IPOs (initial public offerings) I’ve participated in, which have been very few.

JAMES BARNETT

Sun Valley