The Nation : Senate Acts on Drug Bill

The Senate voted, 83 to 4, to order the Pentagon to see it how can help keep illegal drugs from coming into the United States. But the amendment did not order the military to play a large part in the growing anti-drug effort, as the House did in its version of the bill. No final Senate action is likely before mid-week on the $1.4-billion measure, and passage would send it to a conference committee, so it is possible that no comprehensive anti-drug measure will be approved before Congress’ planned adjournment Friday. Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger has opposed the efforts, arguing that they will hurt the military’s chief goal of being ready for war.