The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-12-15
THE BASEBALL ARBITRATORS.
The Burns Case Temporarily Disposed Of
Amendments to the National Agreement.

New YORK, Dec. 14-The arbitration com,
mittee of the National Base ball League and the
American Baseball Association continued their
star chamber" session to day at the Fifth-av-
enue Hotel. They are considering, among
other things, the application of the Interna-
tional League for membership. The League
wishes to get the benefit of the reserve law" of
the commltte, but Chairman Byrne says it is
not likely that the application will be granted,
as in that case they would be compelled to ad-
NIT all the other dozen or more small leagues,
and this would deprive the National League and
American Association of good talent which
might be developed in the smaller leagues. The
reserve rule was increased from twelve to four.
tesn and a. suggestion was made to do away
with the rule limiting salaries, it being claimed
it was violated every season, but nothing so far.
has been done with this
The committee sat long upon the case of
Burns, the Newark people maintaining that the
committee had no jurisdiction over the matter
and it was finally referred to Lawyers PHELPS.
of Louisville, and Rogers, of Philadelpha-two
of the committee-to decide as to whether the
arbitration committee had power in the prem
iSes.
Of various amendments were made to the ma
tional agreement, which will be submitted to
the annual meeting of the American Asso-
citation tomorrow for approval, and to
the National League when it meets
in the spring. AS amended, Section provides
that no club shall enter into negotiations with
players until Oct 20, under penalty of fine of
$500, to be imposed upon the club or individuals
representing the club. and suspension for the
ensuing season of the player entering into such
negotiations 1t also provides that power to
blacklist shall be taken from clubs and vested
in the association. Section provides that no
club shall 60 from one association to another ex-
cept in the month of November.
The committee adjourned late this afternoon
to allow the board OF directors Of the American
Association to hold its executive meeting The
board inspected Secretary Wheelers accounts
and approved them.
Pittsburg brought in an application for the re-
turn of $400 out of the $500 they were fined for
taking Barclay away from Baltimore on a con-
tract, and which they were promised should be
returned them at the end of the season. The
matter was referred to the association for de-
cisicn.
The charges against Manager Phillips, of the
Pittsburgs, preferred by President Won Der
that there was no ground Of complaint, and dis
missed them
They awarded the championship to the st.
Louis Browns with recommendation that the
championship of the world should also be award
ed them. They then adjourned and the arbitra-
tion committee resumed its labors.
Further amendments were proposed 20 the ma
tioual agreement. They were that club should
lose its membership in minor league by resigna
tion, expulsion or disbandment, and that all
their players would be on the market free to
sign with any one. Any miner league should
forfeit its membership if it failed to expel any
ofits clubs that violated any rules adopted by the
late committee on rules. This amendment also
provided that minor league should
forfeit its mem bershp if it failed to expel club
that had played in city where there is already
located League or American Association club,
or if il played within four miles of such city
The subcommittee, who had delegated to its
consideration the fact az to whether the arbitra-
tion committee had jurisdiction in the matter
concerning Burns, reported that the committee
justified in dealing with the case. They
thought the Newark club had oyerstepped
its bounds in expelling Burns, and recommended
that he be reinstated. The committee, there
FORE reinstated Burns. but, out of respect for
the Eastern League, of which the Newark Club
was a member, it was decided that he should not
be allowed to sign contract before Jan. 15, so
that the personal contract which Mr.. Day, of
the New York Club holds with him is null aud
void. He will, it is anticipated, go with the
Batimores next season. The committee then
adjourned. The annual meeting of the Ameri-
can Association takes place to morrow.