The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-10
DELIBERATIONS OF
THE BALL MAGNATES

Affairs of General Interest to the
Base Ball Enthusiasts Are Ad-
justed--LittIe Fish Leagues Are
Chased Out to tho Edge of the
Pond, as Usual.
Philadelphia, Nov. 9.-The official
programme of the National league
gathering moved rather slowly today,
but the rumors of deals grew thicker
and thicker as the day and night pro-
gressed. The board of directors of the
league convened shortly after 12 o'clock
and disposed of a few rather unim-
portant appeals from players who had
grievances, the points of the appeals
in each instance being summarily dis
allowed and dismissed.
President Young was authorized to
establish ap office in the business Sec
tion of Washington for the transac-
tion of league business, and the Bos-
ton club was officially awarded the
championship of 1897
The national board of arbitration
then got together to dispose of mat
ters unfinished at last nights session.
The most important subject before the
board was the petition of the class A
leagues for a modification of the draft
ing clauses of the national agreement.
The petition as presented met with no
opposition in the board and it was
decided that it's provisions should be
recommended to the National league
for adoption.
The suggested change in the rules
for drafting which will without doubt
be endorsed by the league, provides
that no player can be drafted by the
National league unless he shall have
served at least two years in the class
A league, from which the draft is de-
sired to be made. Glass A consists Of
the Eastern, the Western and the At
lantic leagues. No change was asked
by the minor leagues in the drafting
price, which will therefore remain at
$780, The change in the drafting rule
does not prevent the purchase of any
minor league players by a National
league club through mutual agreement
of the clubs interested and transfers
from the minor to the major league
through purchase, or trades, can at
any time be made as heretofore. On
suggestion of John T. Brush, an
amendment to the drafting clause was
also recommended to the league for
approval, which grants permission to
| the National league clubs to loan a
| player to minor league club with the
| understanding that the player can be
recalled on thirty days notice.
Among the affairs Of less general in
! terest disposed of by the board were
| the following:
The claim Of the Philadelphia club
| to players McVey and Fox through
| agreement with the Athletic Atlantic
| league club for their purchase was
| confirmed. but the petition of the two
players for unpaid salaries was re.
ferred to the Atlantic league for which
payment under the national agreement
that league is responsible.
The appeal of Gallagher for
unpaid salary from the Reading club
was dismissed and Gallagher was
granted release from reservation by
the Richmond club. Gallagher fol
some breach of discipline, was fined
by the Reading club the amount OF
salary due him. He then refused tC
play with the Reading club and was
released to Richmond. Gallagher die
not play with Richmond but was plac'
ed on the latter's reserve list. The
board decided that the players fine
was Justifiable, but gave him his free
dom to contract hereafter with whom
he may.
The reported purchases of Clement!
by Boston and Grady by New Yorl
were positively denied this evening by
the club owners of those cities.
The Philadelphia club is endeavorinl
TO effect deal with the st. Louis
club by which Monte Cross, Catche
Douglass and Pitcher Donohue can b,
brought to Philadelphia. 1t is saiC
Won Der Abe has been offered Taylor
Clements, Nash and Lavecross for tn
three players named, or any three o
them for Monte Cross and Douglass.
The business of the auxiliary bodies
the board OF arbitration and the boarC
of directors, having finally been dis
posed of, the National base ball leagu,
proper was called to order for its frs
session at o'clock tonight with tn,
representatives. present from all tn,
twelve clubs. In keeping with tn,
slow work OF the past few days tn,
meeting lasted less than an hour anC
no business whatever was transacted
The only matter discussed was tn,
question of the telegraph privilege
on the several league grounds, wheth
cr these privileges should be granted
TO the Postal or the Western Uniol
company or to both. The whole sub
iect was finally referred to a com
mite for consideration and the meet
ing then adjourned until tomorrow
noon.
The various deals had tonight set
tied down to very few. None ha
been contaminated. Those which ar
known to be under consideration ar
! the exchange of Taylor, Clements