With the acquiescence of WGBH, reported yesterday in the Boston Globe, the passage of the amendments appears to be assured.

But both MacDonald and Sterling called yesterday's Globe article "premature" because it stated that a settlement between the 16 beneficiaries would be reached as early as yesterday. Both MacDonald and Sterling are currently anticipating a longer timetable because many of the organizations, like PBHA, must get a vote of assent from their governing bodies.

Alex Beam, author of the Globe article, said he believed a settlement would be reached yesterday, but now acknowledges that further steps are required.

"It is in fact true that the minor beneficiaries have to go back to their boards and run the settlement by their boards," Beam said.

The process has been "very draining," Ong said. "If Margret had known about it she would have said forget it."

Rey did not stipulate how PBHA was to use the funds. While the organization has had financial trouble in the past, MacDonald said Rey's bequest would probably be used to fund PBHA's summer camps, in accordance with Rey's interests.

"[Rey] funded a lot of summer programs. She always liked the idea of students doing work in community on a volunteer basis," Ong said