WASHINGTON, April 20--The first busload of Cambridge civil rights bill supporters arrived here early this morning, and met all day with Senators.

The 38 persons from Harvard, Radcliffe, and the Cambridge area were joined by another group from the University of New Hampshire. Still more supporters are expected to arrive throughout the week, to follow the force which today numbered 170 from 25 states and universities.

One group of 30 visited Sen. Leverett Saltonstall '14 (R-Mass.). He was vague about his position on the substance of the bill, but said he would vote for cloture. "I hope that a realistic civil rights bill goes through. I wouldn't be honest if I thought it would go through in its present form," explained Saltonstall.

Earlier, his son and administrative assistant, William L. Saltonstall '49, welcomed the group and defended his father's position. "The Senator is pragmatic. You've got to have faith in the guy--he's trying to get something done," the younger Saltonstall said.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy '54 assured the group he would support the bill as it stands. "You don't have to worry about me," he claimed.

One of Sen. Hubert Humphrey's assistants, John Stuart, urged the group to urge the Senators to: (1) vote for the bill without amendments, (2) vote for cloture, and (3) be present for quorum calls.

Humphrey (D-Miss.) is floor manager of the bill. He and his colleagues oppose all but one of the amendments recently proposed by Sen. Everett McKinley Dirksen (R-III.), Senate Minority Leader.

When asked about his support of the bill, Sen. J.W. Fulbright (D-Ark.) said "those for the bill should get out and vote for it and not try to persuade me to."