The morning times., 1896-02-26

September 5, Z, 3.
New York. Feb. 25.-The annual spring
meeting of the National League OF Pro
fessional Baseball Clubs, was brought TO
a close tonight a the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
The leagues schedule, the formation or
which is always the most important busi-
ness of the spring or schedule meeting,
as 1t is generally known, was given out
for publication at d late hour.
The opening days of the season are the
same for all cubs-Aprii 16, II and Is.
In the East Boston will open the season
with the Quakers al Philadelphia. Brook
Iyn will set the ball rolling with the cham
piuns at Baltimore, and the Giants will
start the game by playing Washington at
the Capital City.
The Western cities open as follows Pitts
burg VS. Cincinnati, at Cincinnati; Cleve-
land vs. ST. Louis, at ST. Louis: and Chi
cagu VS.. Louisville, at Louisville.
The league ma gnates took up the report
of the rules committee as their first busi-
ness today. In future umpires must inn
mediately move from the game and field
any pIs yer guilty of improper or indecent
conduct or language, instead of having the
With regards TO coachers or players leav-
ing the bounds Of their positions, the um-
pire shall after the first warning, fine
the offender in sum OF not less than
S5 nor more than SO. In case Of a
second violation 4 fine OF S25 will be
imposed, and for the third offcnse the
umpire must positively order the player
from the game and field and forth with
notify the captain Of the team TO which the
player belongs that during the continuance
of the game no more fines will be imposed,
bat the offending players Will suffer sum
mary expulsion.
This rule does not, OF course, apply TO the
captain of either team when he shall appeal
10 the umpire on question OF an interpre-
tation OF the rules.
When the umpire orders a player from
the game he must also insist that such
pla yer be removed from the field. and shall
suspend play until such order is obeyed.
The other changes are unimportant.
President Hart of Chicago, offered a
resolution 10 dispense with the Temple
cup series, but the motion was not enter
tanned.
The double-umpire system was not dis
cussed. nor was the new member elected
on the board OF arbitration. The latter
was laid over 10 the next annual meeting
of the league, which will be held in Chicago
some time in November.
The other business before the meeting
was OF an unimportant nature and the
league adjourned at o'clock this even
ing.
During theafternoon An adjournment was
taken and the magnates presented a mag
nificent silver service to President and
Secretary Nick Young on the occasion of
the silver anniversary OF his connection
with professional baseball. President Soden
of Boston, made the presentation address,
in the course OF which he dwelt on the
Importance OF Mr. Young's services to the
national game for a quarter OF century.
A G. spalding sent letter of regret at
not being able to be present and also made
congratulatory and eulogistic reference to
the secretary.
The minor league magnates were much
perturbed over the action of the National
League in altering the national agreement
in such a manner as to impose new hard
ships on the lesser organizations. There
was much bitter feeling among the repre-.
sentatives, and meeting was held during
the day to consider course OF action.
1t was decided to postpone action until
the 18th of March, when a meeting will
be held at Washington. Under the new
national agreement on the aggregate popu-
lation business some of the minor leagues
will be forced into lower classes than they
are now classed in.
In the case of the Atlantic League, which
comprises the cities of Wilmington, DEL,
Newark, Paterson and Jersey City, n. j.,
and Hartford and New Haven, Conn.,,
President Sam Crane has already contracted
and paid for protection under class A.
BY the terms OF the new agreement the
Atlantic League is in class b and it is
doubtful If the National League has the
power OF retracting the original contract.
None of the magnates would speak on
the matter except President Young and
he said that he thought il very delicate
question, which would take much time
to decide. The different clubs in the
league report that arrangements have been
made for the observing OF Harry Wright
day, April 13, and each city viii play
game, the proceeds to be devoted to erect
ing suitable memorial to the late veteran.
The following is the schedule of games
for 1896:
BOSTON.
Boston at home With Brooklyn June %,
"a, 20; August 10, II, Is. With New York
June Is, 1e, IT; August IL, 13, IA With
Philadelphia June 26, 27, %; July 81;
August /, 8. With Baltimore April 20,
80; May 2; July %, 20, 30 With Wash
ington June 10, 20, 22; August 8, 6, Z.