The evening times., 1899-12-11
TIE BASEBALL OUTLOOK
Many Questions to Be Decided at
the Meeting Of Magnates.
The Attempt to Freeze Out the Sem
atOrs and other Clubs Not Ex-
pected to Succeed-Changes OF
Radical Nature Anticipated-Rules
to Be Taken Under Consideration.

The eyes of the local baseball fans
now centre on New York. Tomorrow morn
ing the annual meeting of the National
League will begin and continue in session
for a week. At this meeting it is highly
probable that the fate of more than one
club will be decided.
What will happen to the Washington
team is the all-absorbing topic among the
followers of the national game here. There
is a well-defined movement to freeze out
the locals. together with the clubs from
Cleveland, Louisville. and Baltimore. but
it can be almost positively stated that no
such attempt will succeed, certainly so far
as the Baltimores and the Senators are
concerned.
Since the recent deal to sell the Wash
ington club to local syndicate fell through
the Wagners have announced that the club
is not for sale at any price. This being
the case, there is no way in which the To-
Gals can be squeezed out Of the League ex-
cept by purchase until the expiration OF
the ten-year contract in 1901.
1t has long been felt that the league OF
twelve clubs has been too large, and that
in some OF the cities in which the nation
al game is played, the attendance does not
justify the expenditure necessary to keep
up the clubs, but at the same time, it is
realized that TO decrease the League to
eight clubs. will give ample opportunity
for Just exactly what the new association
has wanted for some time; that is. op-
position to the present aggregation OF
clubs. At any rate, some changes OF
very decided nature will be made at the
session of the magnates, and there are
very apt TO be some very warm debates
over the situation before it is decided.
Earl Wagner has been in New York sew
eral days comforting with the other own
ers. and mapping out line of action.
There is but enc way in which reduc-
lion of the League can be made without
the consent of the owners of the four
clubs mentioned. and that is. by purchase.
The owners Of the eight clubs, who de-
sire the smaller league. can purchase the
franchises; but as the ten-year contract
which would be something over 100000
is considered too great to consider such
q proposition fayorably.
Other matters that are TO be discussed at
the meeting are the shortening OF the play
ing season TO five or five and a half months.
Probably q rule to forbid the transfer of
games, as was done by Louisville and
Cleveland last season, will be adopted. The
prohibition Of double-headers for one ad-
mission, except where II Is absolutely nee
essary to complete the schedule will be
considered. A committee on playing rules
will be appointed to report in the spring.
Rules will be adopted TO prevent, as far as
possible the usual outbursts of rowdyism
among the players. The double umpire
question will be considered as will also the
appointment of chief umpires. There are
number of contested games and disputes
that will have to be decided.
Every effort is going TO be made by Earl
Wagner TO have good strong team in
Washington, not a pennant- winner on pa
per. but team that will put up good ar
ticle of ball and furnish the patrons Of Ma
tional Park with first class sport.