They said the law violated their First Amendment right to buy these materials at military commissaries and exchanges.

Bland Farms onions are sold in all 50 states, in Britain and in military commissaries around the world.

At military commissaries around the world, cigarettes and other tobacco products are sold at prices 30 to 60 percent lower than those charged by commercial grocery stores.

General Boomer, for instance, has taken on some sacred cows, criticizing military commissaries for taking business away from small-town merchants in the United States.

Wing-Time sauces can also be found in the military commissaries.

Unlike the military commissaries - groceries that receive a $1 billion annual Federal subsidy - the exchanges are largely self-supporting.

Does Mr. Lyons mean to suggest that the tax break on cigarettes sold in military commissaries would reduce military pension expenditures through shortened life expectancy?

The company is involved in food distribution to private companies, primarily independent supermarkets, and military commissaries; and the operation of retail stores.

The Defense Department said the total value of food stamps redeemed at military commissaries increased to $27.4 million last year from $24.5 million in 1992.

Over all, the value of W.I.C. coupons redeemed at military commissaries increased to $15.2 million last year from $12.4 million in 1992.