CRIME BILL STILL IN A FIGHT

Senate Republicans have vowed to block the crime bill that cleared the House Sunday in a 235-to-195 vote triumph for President Clinton. Senator Orrin Hatch, Republican from Utah, has promised to use a Senate procedure tomorrow that requires the bill's supporters to muster 60 votes (the same number required to stop a filibuster) before further discussion. Since all 56 Democrats can't be expected to stick to the party line and support the bill, Clinton has his work cut out for him: He needs either six or eight Republicans to defy their leadership and support the bill, says TIME Washington correspondent Laurence I. Barrett. Today White House chief of staff Leon Panetta fired the first shot in anticipation of the battle tomorrow, calling the opponent's efforts "a disgrace to the country." Barrett says he expects a vote in the Senate by the end of the week.