The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-03
NO SCHEDULE ADOPTED
ABRUPT ENDING OF THE NATIONAL
BALL LEAGUE MEETING.
Many Changes in Rules-Mr. Brush's
Report on Discipline Not Given Fair
reatment-St. Louis Club.

Fifth-avenue Hotel for the. past three days,
came to an abrupt ending Tonight. Con-
trary to expectations the magnates finished
their business during q three-hour session
which began at 4 o'clock. Here is what the
magnates accomplished in the three hours:
They passed the Rogers amendments to the
constitution without any change; they
passed the Brush report on the board of
discipline after making some important
changes; they adopted the report of the
rules committee after certain notifications
had been made: they passed a resolution
which has direct bearing on the disposition
of the st. Louis franchise: they did not
take any action on the Philadelphia admis-
sion question and Colonel Rogers did not
bring the matter before his brother mag
mates; they did not adopt a schedule for
the coming season.; one amendment was
passed to the national agreement; they ex-
tended a vote of thanks TO the committees
on constitution, rules and discipline; they
adjourned subject to the call of the presi-
dent, which means that when the magnates
next convene business can be transacted
under a three-fourths vote instead Of a vote
of all the members as would be necessary
in case of "a special meeting. John 7. Brush,
of Cincinnati, and Frank De Haas Robson,
of Cleveland, did not attend the meetings,
explaining that shey had "other business"
As soon as the magnates got into session
they took up the constitution. Col. John
I. Rogers, of Philadelphia, read his pro-
posed amendments. and after some discus
sion they were unanimously adopted with
out any material change. Here are the
amendments presented by Mr.. Rogers:
Sec. 81. The board shall have a general
supervision and management of all the bust
ness and affairs OF the League, including
the award of the championship and such
other duties expressly and implicitly con-
TERED upon them by this constitution or
by legislation made in pursuance thereof.
1t shall be the sole and exclusive tribunal
for the trial of managers or players for vio-
lations of this constitution, of the playing
rules or other rules of discipline. unless the
members shall otherwise direct. II shall be
the sole and exclusive tribunal TO hear and
determine disputes between clubs. COM
plants against a manager by a club or
player of another club, or by a manager or
player against his own club, or by an APP
peal of a player against fine, suspension or
expulsion of his own club, and generally for
the adjudication of all issues of law or fact
arising out OF this constitution, the playing
rules and other legislation made in pursu-
ance thereof.
Sec. 2e. The board shall have authority
TO impose any just fine or pecuniary pen
atty on a club, a manager or a player If war
ranted by their findings and decisions, and
they may impose the expenses of trials and
hearings on one or both parties to the con-
troversy. But such fines, penalty and ex-
pense may be RENTED by a three-fourths
vote of the League upon appeal duly made
and heard at annual or special meeting.
Sec. rs. The President of the League shall
nave power upon proof TO suspend for a
dehnite period and to impose a fine not ex-
ceeeding 800 upon any League manager or
player guilty in public of gross misbehavior,
including intoxication, fighting. quarreling,
whether on or off the playing field, during
the season, where the same in his opinion
Is calculated to bring disrepute upon the
NallOndl Lea que Or national I'm G,,nb
hne can only be RENTED by the board of
directors after a hearing upon appeal duly
Section SO relates to umpires; their ap-
pointment, qualifications, salaries and
duties.
Section 40 provides for the appointment of
a supervisor of umpires and defines his
duties.
CHANGES IN RULES
The Boston magnates scored a complete
victory in their fight on the rules. which
were next discussed. The rule relating to
grounds was wiped out entirely. Substan-
TALLY all of the other rules submitted TO the
league by the committee, consisting of
Messrs. Hart, Reach and Hanlon. were
, adopted.
The rule relating to the position of the
catcher was passed without a dissenting
2 vote. This rule prevents a catcher from
= playing outside the lines of his position in
. order TO field hunted balls.
Rule l9. relating to team uniform. was
changed SO as to provide that any player
1 who appears on the field in a uniform which
differs from those of his felow-players shall
not be permitted to take part in the game.
{ Rule ~, Section 1, relating to benches fol
Y players, was changed SO as to provide thai
each club must furnish players benches
o placed upon a portion of the ground not less
{ than twenty-five feet outside of the play
4 ers lines. The benches must be covered
. and be closed at the back. This rule wa.
changed with the idea of preventing tht
T spectators from talking to the players, anC
> vice versa The rule also provides that n,
! person other than the manager and play
j ers shall be allowed on the bench. The rul,
: also provides that all players. other thar
: those assigned to the coaching lines or a
the bat. must remain seated. For violation.
n of the rule a section is inserted in the rul,
by which the umpire may fine a player wht
o violates il. The rule will also have tn,
. effect of keeping the president Of a team
off the field and bench.
{ Rule 81, defining a balk, has been mater
= tally changed. There are eight sections t.
Il the rule, as follows:
o l. Any motion made by the pitcher to de
liver the ball to the bat or to a base with
F. out delivering il.
r 2. The throwing by the pitcher of tn,
without first stepping directly towards tn,
said base Immediately before throwing tn,
v ball.
+ 3. Any delivery Of the ball to the bat b,
a the pitcher while his pivot foot is not ii
S contact with the pitchers plate and h
is not facing the batsman as defined in Rul
r 4. Any motion in delivering the ball t,
the bat by the pitcher while not I'm tn
: position defined in Rule g.
o ). The holding of the ball by the pitche
so long as, in the opinion of the umpire, L
S delay the game unnecessarily,
8. Standing in the position and maxim,
IS any motion TO pitch without having posses
sion of the ball.
e Z. The making Of any motion the pitche
4. habitually makes in his method of deliver,
without his immediate delivery of the bal
le to the bat.
ii s. If the pitcher delivers the ball to tn
bat when the catcher is standing outsid
the lines of the catcher's position al de
n fined in Rule ;.
"a 1t is provided that If the pitcher violate
h any of these sections the umpire must cal
a "balk."
l. The proposed amendment to Rule AZ wa
the one that Boston fought. The propose
Ill rule provided that any ball hit over a fenc
n should entitle a batsman to a home run, ex
De cept where the fence is within 2S5 feet o
4 the prescribed distance. the batsman shoul
rs only be entitled to tsyo bases. The rule wa
* wiped out and the Boston players are at lib
D. erty to keep on soaking home runs over thei
left and right-feld fences and have then
q count as home runs.
10 The proposed Section 2 TO the propose
q: Rule AZ, providing that a batsman who In
III lures a catcher or umpire by throwing hi
> bat when leaving the home plate shall b
l. declared out and no runs scored as a resul
&c of the play, was also voted down.
D Rule 50 was changed so as 10 provide tina
&c any coacher who. by word or sign. tries I
marks TO any person except the baseruune
chan no fined e. hV the nmpirp- II then IN