The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-02
NEW BASEBALL RULES.
To do Away With Rowdyism on the
Ball Field.


Ball Field.
St. Louis, Mo-, March 1.-The baseball
magnates of the National League were
tired out with their late session Of last
night and it was long after ten o'clock,
the hour set for converting, when they
dame together. Very little business
was transacted ut the morning session.
At the afternoon session the doors were
thrown open to newspaper men who
were given an opportunity to listen to
the report of the committees appointed
last year to devise means for doing away
with rowdyism on the ball field.
John II. Brush. chairman of the COM
m.ttee, presented the report, which en-
bodied communications from magnates.
umpires, members of the press and others
interested in the national game. These
communications showed the necessity of
adopting some measure to do away with
the evil.
AS the unanimous views Of the COM
mittee, Chairman Brush submitted the
report for the suppression of obscene,
indecent and vulgar language by players
on the ball field. The report was unani-
mously adopted. TO carry this measure
of reform into effect, twenty three reg
ulations We're appended.
The measures provide that the regula-
tiOns shall be explained to and read
by every player and employee in the
league. who shall then be obliged to
sign them for the purpose of showing
that this legislation had been brought
TO their attention.
1t is provided that it shall be compe-
tent for any person or persons, whether
player. manager, umpire, club official of
any club, or spectator. to submit infor-
NATION and testimony in writing under
oath concerning obscene, indecent or
vulgar language during the progress of
a game by player or employee of a
National League club of which they
have personal knowledge.
All such charges shall be submitted to
the president of the league under oath
within forty eight hours of it's alleged
commission and the president shall inn
mediately furnish n copy of the same
to the accused for his defense with the
written notice of suspension, if amy.
Five days shall be allowed the accused
to reply under oath, and the case when
thus prepared shall be submitted by the
president to Il tribunal of three judges
selected by the league to be called the
Board of Discipline" who shall have alb
solute authority to acquit or convict up
on the evidence submitted from which
there shall be no appeal, except to the
Board of Directors of the league. The
findings and sentence of the board shall
be transmitted to the president of the
league who shall execute the sentence.
When the members of the tribunal or
q majority thereof do not agree upon Il
Judgment, the president of fheleague
snail select some one of the opinions as
the one to be followed, providing it be
not the extreme penalty and that shall
be considered the Judgment and be en-
forced.
The penalties may be suspension for
days, for months, for the uneXpired sea-
son, for a year, or for life, according
to the conditions, circumstances and ma
ture of the offense.
The extreme penalty imposed i'll this
measure, viz: Life expulsion" shall
require the unanimous approval of the
three members of the tribunal and be-
fore imposing such penalty the accus-
ed shall be notified, that he can defend
in person and by counsel, if he elects.
It shall be competent for either par
ty to a case submitted to the tribunal
to show under oath the character and
standing of those who make the charges
and give evidence and before the Life
expulsion" can be imposed the accused
may, if he elect, have the opportunity
of cross examining the witnesses against
him by dispositions.
There shall be no appeal from a deci-
sion by the tribunal or II majority, for
a rehearing or a re-opening of q case
except by unanimous, vote of the Board
of Directors, based upon new evidence.
The tribunal shall be selected by the
National League. No one shall be "A
member who is financially interested i'm
club.
The first tribunal under this provision
shall be composed of l.. G. KrauthofI,
of Kansas City, who shall he selected 10
serve three years; Louis Kramer, of
Cincinnati, who shall serve two years
and Frederick X. Stearns, of Detroit,
Mich, who shall serve one year and be-
ginning with 1899 and each year there
after there shall be one member elected
10 serve three years.
III a player under suspension pending
investigation should be acquitted by the
tribunal, his salary shall he paid by the
president of the league for the time he
was under suspension.
belore adjournment for supper. res
olutlon expressive of the sorrow and
loss felt by members of the national as
ISOLATION in the death of Charles IT.
Lyme, of the Brooklyn. IN. W. Club
WAS unanimously adopted
Inc meeting tonight was of short
duration. The time was occupied bv
Charles IL. Ebbetts in AN eulogv of
Charles I'll Rrrno - -, NuIosy VI