SENATE PASSES PATRIOTS BILL; FINNERAN SURPRISINGLY DOCILE

          The MA Senate "overwhelmingly passed" a Patriots
     stadium bill yesterday that includes a funding measure that
     would impose an income tax on visiting team athletes playing
     in Foxboro, according to Tina Cassidy of the BOSTON GLOBE. 
     After the Senate voted 36-1 for the legislation, House
     Speaker Thomas Finneran said he was "curious" about the
     income tax idea.  Acting Gov. Paul Cellucci said that he
     "opposes the tax on the players."  A conference committee
     comprised of House and Senate members could be assembled as
     early as Monday, to "work out differences between the bill
     passed yesterday and the House version passed last fall." 
     The Senate version calls for a new $200M stadium, while the
     House version calls for a $50M remodeling of Foxboro
     Stadium.  Patriots VP Jonathan Kraft said he "was relieved"
     the stadium bill is "making progress" (BOSTON GLOBE, 2/27).