The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-25
WARD Is RELEASED

By the New York club Af,er Three
Years Vyait-Ths National League Meet
ing at New York.
NEW YORK. Feb. 24.-The annual
schedule meeting OF the National Base
Ball League which began to-day at che
Fifth Avenue hotel, promises TO be a
very lively one. as It Is rumored that,
apart from the question OF the schedule
for the coming season, there are sew
eral important matters 20 be adjusted.
The minor leagues have a number OF
grievances against the national mag
nates, and they want some satiSfac-
tory plan adopted which will prevent
the drafting OF players from their
clubs into those OF the league.
There viii be no very radical
changes made in the playing rules this
season, according 70 Ed Hlnlon, who
il on the rules Committee. Some re-
vision may be considered in regard 70
the pitchers box, but its dimensions
will moi be altered.
The National Board- adjourned at
2:l5, after n session OF four hours,
Irhe entire time was taken up with sne
Ward Freedman case, the finding be-
ing in favor OF Ward, who was released
from reservation by :he New York
club.
The regular League meeting then was
called to order and remained In session
until Z o'clock behind closed doors.
When they adjourned the secretary
stated that the entire time of the ses-
sion had been taken upfn the adoption
of n new national agreement The ma
terial changes mnde from the one in
vogue are as follows:
The national board will in future be
called The National Board OF Arbitra-
tIon. and Its membership Increased
from four to Ave. The board shall de-
termine the classification OF the clubs
which apply for protection aud ciassiti-
cation under the National Agreement,
in proportion to the population ION the
basis OF the last census) OF the cities
where they are located, or where there
are two or more large cities the aRsre-
gate OF the population will be consid-
cred. There viii be six grades, namely,
a, B, c, D, E and F, and the fees, in-
Guiding right OF reservation for each
club in these grades, Will be $40, $50, NO,
$50. $50 and so respectively.
The Limitation for the selection OF
players from A to 3 and 80 on down
will be from the first Of October to the
first OF january,
The drafting OF players from these
classes will cost rs follows:
Class a, $500: B, $500: c, 5000; D, 500:
Z, ST5, and F, $50.
The schedule for the coming season,
It Is understood. will be adopted some
time tomorrow, but in ali probability
It will not be given out for publication
until n late hour tomorrow evening.
There was strong representation
from the minor leagues In evidence to-
day, and II is expected that the mag
mates will have some trouble In satisfy
ing the minor league presidents, who
claim that they suffer from n number
of uncalled for grievances and hard
ships Mt the hands Of the mnjcr body.
During the meeting OF the magnates
this evening session was held In an
adjoining parlor OF the hotel for the
purpose OF organizing the minor
leagues The following representatives
were present: Interstate league, Pres
ident c. Il: Power. Pittsburgh; western
league. President Ban johnson, Cln-
cinnoti; Western association, President
4. j. Hickey. st. Joseph, Mo; New
England league. President T. j. MUIR
uOne, Rostat., Eastern league, President
p, 7. Powers, Jersey City; Pennsylva-
MIA State ieREdc. President Frank
HouEh, Philadelphia, and Atlantic
league, President Sam Crane, New
York,