VOTE NEAR ON TOWER

President Bush said this week that allegations against John Tower have been ``gunned down'' by a thorough FBI report, and he called on the Senate to quickly confirm Mr. Tower as defense secretary. The Senate Armed Services Committee, meanwhile, scrutinized the report, which the White House sent to chairman Sam Nunn (D) of Georgia, and ranking Republican John Warner of Virginia. The two senators said the committee would meet in a closed session Wednesday and hoped to vote Thursday.