The herald., 1896-02-14
After Adopting Wise Rules Reg
ulating Bicycle Racing .
NO ACRIMONY WAS SHOWN
The League Position Is Strengthened d
All Around
Cabanne and Titus Arc Tenderiy Dealt With.
Important constitutional Amendments
Considered and Adopted

BALTIMORE, Md, Feb. 13.-The repre-.
sentative wheelmen have gone home, after
an assembly which, for hard work and its
effect upon the future of the league and of
bicycling in general, will long be remem-
bsred. Among the most important of its
results are the abolition of class b, the de-
termination that the league shall retain
control Of cycle racing, Increasing fees for
sanctions, which it is hoped will result in
forcing outside clubs to join the league;
the adoption of numerous wise rules for
the better regulation of racing, and gen.
eral Strengthening up all around in the
leagues position.
This has been done without the creation
of any hard feelings among the members,
and the meeting was marked by notable
absence of anything in the shape OF acri-
mony. The old administration gave way
most gracefully to the new, and those who
were unable to accomplish what they
came here to do pocketed their defeat
with smile and promised to do the
best they could anyhow. BY leaving it to
the executive committee to adopt a plan
looking to the selection of the place for the
annual meet. without leaving it to vote
of the convention, disturbing element
had been eliminated from future gather
ings of this nature. From the talk in the
convention during the discussion of the
question it seems probable that the execu-
selection of the place for the meet to q
vote of all members of the league, the bal
lot to be cast in January of each year. The
mantle of charity was thrown over the
shortcomings of Titus and Cabanne, and
almost the final act Of the meeting was the
practical reduction of their sentence from
life suspension to suspension for one year.
There was not more than half hundred
delegates present when the convention was
called to order, most of the others having
gone home.
The most important action taken was
the appointment of a committee of five,
consisting of Messrs. Dan of Massachu-
Pennsylvania, Cullmore of Texas and Per-
kins of Massachusetts, to consider and
report upon the application for reinstate-
ment. ,il-h
The discussion of proposed amendments
to the constitution was resumed and the
following were adopted:
Providing that all national committees
except those on auditing and local organi-
zaticn, shall be appointed by the president;
making the fee that must accompany APP
plications for clubs for league membership
50; requiring clubs to forward a list of all
dciT InSIIlDtrSs u0SlRI6tlUR tIlOS0 WHO are
members of the league, requiring that
members belonging to moro than one club
shall designate which club they will vote
with: allowing the president to appoint a
clerk at salary of not over $1,000 per an
mum; making the bond of the treas
urer 5000 instead of S30O0 provid-
ing that chief consuls shall report the
financial condition of their district at the
end of every six months; to provide for
the organization of division clubs COM
posed of "unattached" members. An
hours discussion ensued on an amendment
designed to increase the cost of sanctions
to non league clubs. 1t was decided to in
crease the fees to $25 for national circuit
meets; $40 for open race meets and IS
for each additional day and 80 for athletic
meets, scheduling two events. All league
clubs to have sanctions without cost.
Messrs. Sans, Cossum and Potter were ap-
pointed special committee to arrange for
the incorporation of the league.
Other amendments adopted were: To
define the duties of the new local organi-
zation committee; permitting the racing
board to grant sanctions for Sunday racing
in divisions which have voted to permit
such racing; pronouncing as unfair and
ungentlemanly anything which tends to
disturb q racing meeting; provided that
members removing from one division to
another shall pay fee of % cents for new
membership.
Considerable debate was held on an
amendment limiting the voting by proxy.
1t was decided unanimously to restrict
such voting by limiting the privilege to
delegates who shall become members of
the same division and subdivision as the
delegates giving the proxy. The special
committee on the racing boards recon-
mendations regarding appeals for rein
statement presented it's report, which was
unanimously adopted.
Mr.. Mott offered an amendment to the
constitution designed to alter tho manner
of selecting the place for the midsummer
meet. After full discussion it was deter
mined to refer the whole matter to the ex-
ecutive committee, with instructions TO
arrange plan to settle the question in
advance of the next annual convention
Mr.. Potter of New York created sensa-
ton by making a motion that the racing
board he required to remove the edict of
life suspension from F. j. Titus, convicted
of piring with Murphy and Cabanne to
stake" race.
He made an earnest plea for Titus, and
another delegate moved to include Ca
banne in this motion. There was some
discussion, and the convention finally de.
cided to ask the racing board to reduce the
sentence in both cases to suspension for
one year.
After some further and unimportant
business had been attended to President
Willison made brief address and handed
over the gavel to S. Elliott, his successor,
after which the convention adjourned sine
die.