Evening star., 1941-02-25
Aid Bill PASSAGE
This Week Still
Leaders Hope
Roosevelt Holds
o0-Minute Strategy
Meeting With Aides
By JOHN c. HENRY.


from a Commute conference with
President Roosevelt at the White
House today, still firm in their hopes
for a final Senate vote on the lease
lend legislation by Saturday night
Disturbed at reports of threat
ened delay until the middle of next
week, the Chief Executive called
the big four" of his congressional
advisers and Chairman George OF
the Senate Foreign Relations Com
mittee into consultation at the
White House. The big four" are
Vice President Wallace, Senate
Majority Leader Barkley, Speaker
Rayburn and House Majority Lead
er Mccormack.
In addition to standing by their
hopes of getting the measure TO q
vote by Saturday members of the
group indicated further that they
expect to resist successfully op-
position efforts to make major
changes in the legislation.
Cant Be Sure" Says Barkley.
"We hope to get through by Sat-
urday. but We can't be sure" Sem
ator Barkley told reporters. Il have
seen no evidence of an opposition
filiouster, although there was objec-
ton to the Senate meeting at II
o'clock We are still trying to work
that matter out"
The Senate leader said conSidera-
tion OF amendments would begin
Thursday and that the administra-
ton expects no serious trouble in
this regard Adding that they hope
to avoid any further amending Of
the bill. the Senator said that a
test vote on the legislation may be
recorded on one of the early amend
ment proposals.
Just returned from week end at
his family home in Hyde Park, N Y.
the President scheduled an unusually
full day of conferences and appoint
ments today.
Justice Murphy Is Caller.
Associate Justice Murphy was the
first White House caller after the
conference with the Congress lead
ers. On leaving. he said he had
called to discuss his portion of a
report submitted yesterday by a
special committee on civil service
improvement.
In an independent memorandum
attached to the report Mr.. Murphy
had suggested a much more COM
prehensive and basic study of civil
service by qualified specialists in
merit systems and public employ
ment.
He was to be followed by Sidney
Hillman, associate director of the
ONCE of Production Management.
Attorney General Jackson was next
on the list, probably to discuss ap-
pointments, perhaps including that
to a District Court vacancy left by
the resignation of Justice Peyton
Gordon.
BENJAMIN V. Cohen, who is to be
special counsel to Ambassador John
C. Winant in London. was to see the
President. and later in the day Mr..
Winant himself was to be White
House caller. Both Mr.. Cohen and
Mr.. Winant are expected to leave
this week for their new posts.
Gerard to Be Luncheon Guest.
James w. Gerard, Ambassador to
Germany in the early days of the
World War, was to be Mr.. RooSe-
velt's luncheon guest. The President
arranged to receive latest advices on
the international situation during
the afternoon from UnderSecretary
of State Sumner Welles
Tonight Mr.. Roosevelt will attend
o National Theater performance of
'The Man Who Came to Dinner" 3"
The President makes rare appear
ences at the theater. but Alexander
Woollcott, who plays the leading
role in this show. frequently has
been a house guest at the EXecu-
tive Mansion.
A delay in enactment of the lease
IenQ Dill might lOrce cdnCelldtlOn,
or at least postponement. of tenta-
tive plans of the President for a
Southern vacation and inspection
trip, since he is definitely COM
nitted to be in Washington March
Is at the annual dinner of the White
House Correspondents Associat ton.
Unless departure on trip could be
made by the first of next week, it is
believed there would be insufficient
time for carrying out his vacation
plan.
Tomorrow night the President is
scheduled to make a brief radio
address to the annual dinner of the
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences in Hollywood. Calf.