Despite a militant Sunday morning protest demonstration by local citizens, Boston Sullivan's petition to buy part of Cambridge Common for an office on stilts passed the state Senate yesterday in a final 21 to 15 vote.

The bill, authorizing the city to sell the strip of grass over the MTA bus across from Littauer, is expected to come before the House today or tomorrow. Reliable sources expect it to pass without too much trouble.

the Senate, chief opponent of the legislation was Sen. Fred I. Lammon, Jr., the leader, who objected because the bill had been "railroaded through." "I nothing against Cambridge selling any land," Lamson declared, 'but I do object fact that this legislation was expedited only 24 hours after its first reading." Francis X. McCann, sponsor of the bill, retorted that the Senate should the legislation to the Cambridge City Council, the only body, in his opinion, any right to decide on the project.

"The place to protest is in the city government of Cambridge." McCann asserted. either have home rule or you don't have it."

"I have many telegrams and letters expressing honest differences of opinion-- not one of them is about home rule. This is the wrong place to protest," emphasized. "If these people are representing the New Frontier, God us when the Indians attack," he said.

William B. Hayes assorted that the Senate, not the City Council must be for such a sale. 'If it was pro- to sell the Boston Common, you Canny would say, we can trust the City Council," he declared.

Goes to Council

the bill gets past the House it will the Cambridge City Council, where of the nine Councilors have already approval. Though a simple will ensure the sale of the land, , another problem will face Sullivan when he comes to construct the .

15-story office building on stilts will an extensive zoning change, must pass the Council by a two- vote. Sullivan tentatively has five but it is almost certain that he will pick up any votes from the four other councilors, who are supported by the Cambridge Civic Association.

Other opposition may present itself in human form. For the past two a rumor has circulated about that Harvard Square housewives intend to a "sit-in" if the project should the construction stage.