The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-02-25

New York, February s4.-TIe ann aai
spring meeting of the National League of
professional ball players commenced here
today at the Fifth Avenue hotel. The
principal business of the meeting will be
the publication of the schedule drawn
by President Nick Young. A great
deal of work has to be waded through be-
fore the league will pass on the schedule.
1t is doubtly if it will be reached before
tomorrow night. The clubs are represent
ed by the following delegates: New
York, Andrew freedman, j. w. Spauld-
ing; BROOKLYN, G. H. Byrne, f. A.
Abdell; Boston, A. Fl. Soden, w. III.
Conant; Philadelphia, Al Reach, John
1. Rogers; Baltimore, Edward Hanlon,
H. P. Vonderhorst; Washington, j.
Earle Wagner; Pittsburg.. E. R. Kerr;
Chicago, j. A. Hart Cleveland, A. De
a. Robinson; Cinclnnati, J. 7. Brush ).
Louisville, DR.. W. H. Stuokey; St. Lou
is, A. Hazen, Chris Won Der Abe.
The president of the St. Louis Club
was asbent owing to illness and la wyer
Hazen of Philadelphia looked after St.
Louis interests. W, W. Kerr of Pitts
ness.
Among those present during the dap
were L. Fl. Murnane, president of the
New England League. The national board,
composed of President Young, A. H.
Soden, c. H. Byrne, John T. Brush,
convened few minutes after 10 and adj
j burned at $50. The discussion of the
Ward case { upied almost the entire SEES
sion. After much weighing Of evidence
the board resolved that Ward BIZ released
from the reserve list of the New York
club. The resolution releasing Ward
reads, in Fart, as follows:
''That 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 club for the
season of 1895; that he did not refuse to
sign a contract with said club for the
said season, and consequently said J. M.
Ward is released from reservation under
the provisions Of section of the national
agreement.
The league went into executive session
at 8. As p. M, and 1t was y. M before
the magnates adjourned. The greater
part OF the nesting was spent i'll making
and discussing changes in the national
agreement The first material change
was the addition of another delegate to
the national board. which now consists
of five members instead of four as
formerly. The name was changed to the
national board of arbitration. The fees
which each club shall pay to the National
League for protection are fixed as fol-
lows: Glass A, SIS; B, $50; G, $40; D,
$50; E, $50; F, $40; which shall include
the right of reservation. The board
will determine the classes on the basis
OF the population of the cities compris-
ing the league according to the last GEN.
sus.
From the first of October to the first of
| January was the time limit fixed for the
drafting of players by the National
League from minor clubs. This shortens
| the drafting period one month. The
sums to be paid by the league clubs for
drafting players from lesser organize
D, 500; e. SIS; F, $50. The National
lengue clubs are prohibited from ap-
preaching minor league players during
the playing season and from making
arrangements to draft them at the end
of the sssson. The conditions as to re-
lease and reservation remain unchanged.
Section /, article 80. caused long and
animated discussion Finally the sec
tion was modified TO Rad in part as fol-
lows: Any club member of any minor
league party to this agreement shall en-
tar into any obligation to become mem
| Der OF or cooperate with any organiza-
ton whose existence in any manner CON
fiicts with the letter and spirit of this
agreement or interests of any clubs ope-
rating under it shall forthwith forfeit
all rights and privileges conferred by
this agreement, said forfeit to include
it's membership to any association party
to this agreement and all rights and
privileges of players. The penalty here
imposed shall be positive and final and
shall not be revoked unless by the unani-
nous consent of the board or (upon ap-
peal) by three-fourths vote of major
league. The same rule applies to man
| ayers and players.
The New York club released Tom
Burns. the lsft fielder to the Newark
club Of the Atlantic Association. Burns
will act as captain and manager of the
club.
The National board of arbitration re
convened at s.. p m.