The morning times., 1896-02-25
Ball HAGHATES CONFER
John Ward Released From the
Reserved List.
MINOR CHANGES In RULES
National League Managers in Session
in New York Limit Time of Draft
ing Players TO Three Months-in-
portant Change in National Agree
ment-National Board Increased.

New York. Feb. 24.-The annual spring
meeting of the National League OF pro-
| fessional baseball players, commenced to-
| day at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. The prin
cipal business Of the meeting viii be the
| publication OF the schedule which has been
drawn up by President Nick Young.
A great deal of work has 10 be waded
through before the league viii pass on the
schedule and it is doubtful if it will be
reached before tomorrow night.
The clubs were represented by the fol-
| lowing delegates: New York, Andrew
| Freedman and J. w. Spaldng; Brooklyn,
| c. H Byrne and F. A Abel; Boston, A. II.
| Soden, w. H. Conant; Philadelphia, Al
| Reach and John L. Rogers; Baltimore, Ed
| ward Hanlon and II. X. Won Der Horst;
| Washington, j. Earle Wagner; Pittsburg,
| E. r. Kerr; Chicago, j. A. Hart; Cleveland,
| F. de II. Robson; Cincinnati; j. I. Brush;
Louisville, DR.. W. II. Stuckey; st. Louis,
| A Hazen.
Chris Won der Abe, the wellknown presi-
dent OF the ST. Louis club, was an absentee
owing 10 illness, and Lawyer Hazen of
Philadelphia, looked after the st. Louis in
terests W. W. Kerr, of Pittsburg, was
also absent from the same cause and the
| club was represented by E. r. Kerr.
SOME VISITORS PRESENT.
Among those present during the day We're
| Connie Mack OF Pittsburg, p T. Powers,
| president of the Eastern League: b. b. John
| son. president of the western League; Sam
| Crane. president OF the Atlantic Associa-
| ton: Oliver 7. Tebeau, OF Cleveland; Buck
Ewing. j. Montgomery Ward, and host
| OF others.
TIE national board, which is composed
OF President Nick Young, A. II. Soden, c.
II. Byrne and John T. Brush, convened al
/ a few minutes after O O'Clock. The hear
! ing OF the application OF John M. Ward for
| the release OF his name from the reserve
list of the New York club took up the whole
| OF the first session.
Both President Freedman and Ward ap-
| peared before the board and presented their
| statements. Ward claimed that a con-
tract had not been formally rendered to him
by the club and that, therefore, the organ
| ization had no right TO keep his name on
| the reserve. After lengthy discussion
! the board released Mr.. Wards name from
| the reserve list in the following resolution,
which was passed by the unanimous vote
| OF the board:
That upon the appeal of John NJ Ward.
The findings of this board are, that the said
Ward was Illegally reserved for the season
OF 1896 by reason OF the fact that the said
Ward was not under contract with the New
York ban club for the season of 1895, and
did not refuse to sign contract with said
club for said season, and consequently the
said John NJ. Ward is released from reserva-
| sy,a Of n
the national agreement"
The Elbenfeld case was referred TO The
president to settle. Both Mont gomery and
Dallas, of the minor league, claimed the
services of Elbenfield.
The board took an adjournment al 2 p. m.
TO reconyene later. The League went into
executive session at 3:45 p. N. 1t was
I p. m. before the magnates adjourned.
The time of the meeting was spent in
making and discussing changes in the ma
tional agreement.
The first material change was the addi-
lion of another delegate TO the national
board. which now consists OF five members
instead of four as formerly. The name was
changed 10 the national board OF arbitra-
lion" The fees which each club shall pay
10 the National League for protection, are
fixed as follows:
Class A. $75: b, $50; c, $40; d, $50;
E, $50. and F, $40, which shall include the
right of reservation. The board will de-
termine the classes on a basis of the popu-
lation OF the cities comprising the league
according To the last census.
DRAFTING SEASON SHORTER.
From the 1st OF October to the 1st OF
January was the time limit fixed for the
drafting OF players by National League
clubs. This shortens the drafting period
by one month. The sums 10 be paid by
league clubs for drafting players from the
lesser organizations are: To class A
$500: B, $500; c, $500; d, $100; E.
SIS, and F. $50.
National League clubs are prohibited
from approaching minor league players
during tie playing season and from making
arrangements TO draft them at the end o.
the season. The conditions as to release
and reserve remain unchanged
Section 1 of Article XIII caused {
long and animated discussion, and afte
a lot of debate the section was modified t,
read in part as follows:
ANY club, member of any minor leagu
party TO this agreement, that shan ente
into any negotiation TO become a membe
or cooperate with any organization who's
y existence shall in any manner conflict wit
the letter and spirit of this agreement, o
the interests of any of the clubs operating
under it, shall forthwith forfeit all right
and privileges conferred by this agreement
4 said forfeit to include its membership il
any association party to this agreemen
and all rights and privileges of players.
.The penalty herein imposed shall be pos
? tive and final and shall not be revoked un
= less by unanimous consent of the board, o
T. upon appeaD by a three-fourths vote G
( the major lcaG The same rule applies t
It managers and players" The other change
y were typographical and unimportant.
5 The New York club released Tom Burns
:. left fielder, TO the Newark club of the a
7 lantic Association. Burns viii act as caI
o tain and manager OF the Newark club.
IS The national board of arbitration recor
e vened at S:15 p. ~.
J. Nothing of importance was done at III
Il night session. A few minor league claim
occupied the time of the meeting.
!, The years supply of best butter donate
? 10 Hebrew Fair by Gibbons, butter deale
o was awarded 10 Mrs. b. Bernheimer, IL
B street northwest, On ticket No. 1897.