Nation IN BRIEF : WASHINGTON, D.C. : Senate Rejects Funds for Hiring Police

The Senate thwarted an attempt by Republicans to use the bulk of a $3.3-billion anti-crime bill to put more police officers on the streets. By a vote of 49 to 39, the Senate killed an amendment by Sen. Warren B. Rudman (R-N.H.) that would have set aside $2.2 billion for direct aid to help states, counties, cities and towns hire more officers. The money would have been disbursed on the basis of a community’s population. Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr. (D-Del.), chairman of the Judiciary Committee and chief sponsor of the omnibus crime bill, opposed Rudman’s plan.