Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-28
LATE SPORTING NEWS
Rules Proposed Regulating the Staff
Of Umpires.
4 GREAT INNOVATION SUGGESTED
Completion of the BaItimore-Brook-
Iyn Deal.
WORK OF THE BOWLERS

The committee on amendments to the Ma
tional League constitution has completed
Its work and the report will go into the
| committee of the whole at the league meet
! ing In New York today or tomorrow. The
most important amendment is the change
| in the manner of appointment and the ac-
| countabilty of umpires. In the future all
| applications will have to be made on blank
| FORMS setting forth he applicants qualifi-
| cations and Endorsements, and these will be
verified. President Young will be ordered
| to make out list numbered 1 to 6, which
will embrace the regular staff; to IL will
cover the assistants, and Ii, IA and 10, and
additions thereto, will carry the names of
substitutes or applicants, who will be given
a trial others ahead of them drop out.
The accountability of the umpires will
throw them INTO the fined class as 10 per
cent of their saiary Will be Withheld, and
should they fail TO carry out the rules they
WIl SufTer the same as the payers, the
| fines to paced upon recommendation of
the supervising umpire. who Will be elected
by the magnateS at the present meeting.
This supervisor of umpres snail supervise
and inspect the work of the umpueS and
report to the president as to their efficiency
and fidelity. Complaints shall go to HIM,
and when they are Weighty he snail gather
evidence anu observe personally and report
| to President Young, who may suspend or
remove the umpire. Mere errors of judg-
ment or errors of Interpretation of rules
will not cause much trouble but willful vio-
lation of constitution or rules, or neglect to
enforce the rules or for improper conduct
will cost the umpire $50 at least in fine or
perhaps removal or suspension.
Among other changes are these: The
BOARD Is given authority to impose pecuni-
airy lines, which can only be remitted by the
league; also to adopt rules of procedure
The National League president NAV fine
payers for scandalous conduct that would
brlng disrepute on the league. Reservation
Oh prayers Is cut down in numbers to eight
cen, and will do away with the complaints
against the abuse of The farming system.
The final move in the observation-disclosures
consolidation was made yesterday in New
York. when Mr.. Byrne presented an in
demnity bond as directed by the New Jer-
sey court, in order to protect the purchas-
ers OF the sixty-one shares of stock that
were lost. The new shares We're issued
ana Wnen they We're passed over in legal
form the lawyers representing the Brook
Ign and Baltimore interests paid Mr. Byrne
$4,000. After the signatures to the differ
ent papers had been secured and other small
technical details arranged the consoiida-
ton can said to have been completed and
no more hurdles or bitches will con-
front Mr.. Abel.
The New York papers insist upon stirring
up strife in the great aggregation that will
represent Brooklyn in the National League
the coming season. Their latest story con-
Germs the captaincy of the team, although
Mr. Hanlon has already given out the fact
that nothing has been decided upon on this
line and will not be until the team reaches
the training grounds in the south. The
New York story goes on to say that the old
Brooklyn players retained ON that team
want Griffin for captain. The old Balti-
more players who going with Brooklyn
will make a fight to have Joe Kelley ma 7e
captain and first baseman. Kelley, McGraW
and Keller will have a conference with
Hanlon today in New York and Jennings is
expected to temporarily absent himself from
his coaching duties at Cornell University to
take part in the conference. Kelley has
been offered contract fixing his salary at
s.. 500, which is $500 less than he received
last season. Kelley viii not sign unless he
is paid last seasons figures or made cap
tain, which position carries 500 extra. Nc
Graw says that if he is to manage the
Baltimore team he wants more money than
ne received last season, when he had no
responsibility.
Robert Young, Oldest son and private sec,
Rotary of President Young of the National
League, and Miss Fannie Appeby are to be
married on the Sth of March The wedding
will occur at the Mount Pleasant Congre-
gatiolal Church. and the reception will i'm
mediately follow at the home of Mr.. Young
The magnates of the National League are
ready to play trump card in settling the
st. Louis base bail tangle, says a Chicago
special. 1t was stated excellent authori-
ty that the surprise which the moguls have
threatened to spring at the league meeting
| in New York will be the forfeiture of the
| st. Louis franchise. The proposed step
| will be the final chapter in the career of
Chris Won der Abe, and 1t is calculated that
| the move will leave him without recourse.
The Sportsman's Park and Club of St
| Louis, Of which Won der Abe was president
| until deposed by the court, owes the Ma
| tional League something like 81 400. Ac-
| cofdinS to the constitution Of the league
| Chris has failed to fulfill his contrsctuaI
| obligations and is, therefore, liable to ex-
| DuiSlDu. lecnnlCdtty, there say raj
| other points which the franchise might
! be forfeited. it is claimed, and the infiuen-
| tial magnates in the league have finally de-
| cided that the forfeiture must come
correspondent writes to The Star as
| follows in favor OF bringing Joyce back to
| the local nine:
'ff Mr.. Freedman is going to let Mr.
| Joyce go it might be good thing for the
! Washington club to get him. He is worth
his years salary for his playing in June
July and August, and he surely is q good
hrainy captain. He is not the worst third
Or first baseman in the league either, by a
long way. And if Mr.. Mercer plays out at
third he can fill his place. Joyce did not
have Il fair chance here in New York
The short time that he did have control
| both clubs did well. He was a favorite
here with both business men and clerks
and am sure my proposition would be in
dorsed by nine-tenths of them. What the
people here want is good, gingery ball
After Joyce was traded to New York the
attendance showed plainly how he was
missed. The game was a dry and dead
one"