Evening star., 1898-02-26
Important Legislation Expected at
the National League Meet.
SCHEDULE WILL COME OUT MONDAY
Specializing on the Opening At
traction at Nationa Park
GOSSIP OF TIE GAME

ldiiuOfN Will Dc Oh SUSe 1fOH TeduiHS Ie-
ports of the clubs practicing in the south
and gossip from the different Senators re-
porting for duty in Washington. Captain
Tom Brown and Pitcher Winnie Mercer
have to content themselves with bicycle
riding, punching the bag and visiting the
theaters just at present, but 1t is expected
that Duke Farrell will join this clever
pair next week and Jim Mcclure Is also
expected at an early date. Charley Far
rells wife died few weeks ago after
lingering Illness and the Duke wrote
Brown that as he had nothing to hold him
around home he would leave for Washing
ton in a few days Farrell and Brown
were both married while members of the
Boston team
J. Earl Wagner, secretary and treasurer
of the Washington club, Is expected to
pass through Was hingtOn some time today
on his way to ST. Louis to attend the
spring meeting of the National League.
1ntimatfOn of this visit was given out by
President Nick Young a few days ago,
when he remarked that he had nothing to
base his opinion on, but that he thought
Earl would come this way. as the Phila-
delphia man always liked to discuss base
ball matters with him before the other
mogulS got together for business.
Captain Brown said today tina. he knew
all the contracts had been sent out to the
players of the Washington club some
weeks since. but that he had not heard
from MIR. Wagner yet as to how many had
signed. As to Jack Doyle's reported hold
back Captain Brown would say nothing,
as he had nothing to base an opinion on
and did not care to discuss the situation
from mere hearsay remarks published in
the papers.
Captain Brown will not be In attendance
at the st. Louis meetings, as he thinks there
will be no necessity for his presence to
look after the Washington clubs interest,
from players standpoint, as there will
be few trades made, perhaps one or two,
the business being chiefly with the league
proper.
Next Monday the magnates of the Ma
tional League will congregate in ST. Louis
end hold their regular spring meeting
While the owners of eleven of the twelve
clubs comprising the big league go to that
city. it is very doubtful at this writing if
Mr.. Won der Abe, the owner of the st.
Louis club. will be on hand to receive his
fellow magnates. The st. Louis ma gnate
was released on bail yesterday and he may
shake the smoke of Pittsburg out of his
clothes and leave for home at once but
then again he may not Won der Abe can
save about 5000 by absenting himself
from ST. Louis while the league magnates
are in session If he was in St. Louis rep
resenting the Browns he would be expected
TO entertain all the other magnates and
defray the most of their bills. This is what
the Philadelphia moguls did, and at that
meeting the ST. Louis mogul promised
something even more elaborate than the
Quaker city set-out- But just now Chris
Is In no position to entertain the magnates
In proper shape, and rather than humble
himself it is very probable that he will re-
main away from st. Louis until the meet
ing is over.
There is much to be accomplished at this
meeting The most important matter will
be the arranging of this years schedule
IL mas already been agreed that the season
viii be opened April Is, a week earlier than
1t was in 1897. About twenty more games
are TO be played this year than w. re Dlayed
last season. and as most of the clubs have
announced their intention of playing Sum
day ball. Philadelphia and Boston being the
only two cities now remaining in the nom
playing Sunday column, a PROSPEROUS sea-
son all around can be expected The nm
pire staff will be completed, and as the
double-umpire system has been adopted
better work in this respect can be looked
for. There are about 80 applicants for
positions on President Young's starr Ens-
lie. Lynch and one or two other exDerts are
sure or reappointment, but 1t is a matter
ol conjecture who the other appointees will
De resolutions galore will be presented
Inc most important one will be that of
John L. Brush. which allows for the black
hsths OF players who use Indecent lam
guage on the playing field. His measure is
con eomsidered by some to be too severe but 1t
VIII propaoiy be accepted with certain
notifications. A meeting of the official
oase pail scorers is to be held the night
preceding the league meeting as the scor
ing rules are in need of more uniformity.
anu IL is a safe wager to make that these
prlsnt pencil pushers will contribute in no
small degree toward the success of the
rules committee report
The question as to whether tho N.u,
iorK club would play Sunday ball the COM
ing season was discussed at great Length
last faii That the Giants will pIay sun
Day ball on the road is probably correct
DuI sunday
VIII not be played this year President
rreedmaus silence on the matter is ca siIv
explained. From reliable source it has
been learned that Senator Wilcox the
father of the Sunday ball bill has aban
doned the measure he presented to the
state assembly at Albany The close of
the present session Of the New York legis-
ture is near at hand. and nothing has been
heard of the efforts to leRalfze SUNDAY
GAINES. Assemblyman Hamburger has eyi-
IDENTIFY been called off by the political mo-
guls around the New York city hall, and
ne viii not Introduce the bill in the lower
house. 1t is also reported that a prom,nent
member Of a church society in BROOKLYN
Eas secured an injunction restraining the
brooklyn club from playing Sunday games
should that club make the attempt The
1ailrre OF the Sunday ball bill to take root
In Albany may have some bearing on the
situation In Syracuse. Rochester and Buff
falo, and 1t is said that it is causing con-
siderable anxiety in Eastern League
circles. The hope that a Sunday ball bill
wocld be passed by the legislature has
been blasted; Of that there seems to be no
doubt. This statement Is said TO be ba sed
upon the most reliable authority MANY
believed that the time had come for Sun
day base ball IN New York but late deyeI-
opnents have disabused their minds OF
This idea Sizing the question from all
sides. Ii must be admitted that there was
no great demand for Sunday games, even
after the project had been agitated.
John Heydler. the Washington correspon-
Gent OF the Sporting Life, has the follow
Ing TO say anent the schedule and a guess
as 10 which club viii open up the sea son
with the Senators at National Park on
April Is. He says:
"Washington's share IN the distribution
OF holiday dates by the new schedule Is
causing considerable speculation among
the faithful In '96 and '97 the Senators
had to be content without either of the
two big holidays at home. The impression
seems TO have obtained that Washington
was poor holiday town. But last Labor
day, with its attendant overflow crowd
probably served as an eye-opener. At any
rate. IL Is in order to hazard a guess that
the capital fans will have little to kick
about this year as far as the holiday dates
60 As to the club that will open the sea-
son here, that Is more of problem There
is evidently precedent in this matter On
the first day of the last schedule meeting
Inx-ca cd