Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-11
Circuit Committee Fails to Act and
Many Rumors Spring Up.
SHIFTS OF PLAYERS
Matters Of Great Importance Await
Decision on Reduction Question.
CURRENT SPORTING NEWS
From the Philadelphia Press.

From the Philadelphia Press
The unexpected has happened this week,
for. contrary to general expectations, there
has been no sign of anything doing in the
inner circles of base ball. The circuit COM
mittee has not yet held a meeting nor has
any of the members announced when this
important gathering will take place. One
of the members said one week ago that 1t
would be held very soon but this period
has "rubbered' over several days more
than a definition of Every soon" would
have warranted when the statement was
made.
The silence of the committee on this I'M
portant question, as well as failure by
the members to report any material pro-
gress. is causing considerable gossip and
great deal of guessing all over the coun-
try. One rumor is that the delay Is caused
by the efforts being made to form a com
pact between the National League and the
promoters of the American Association.
Another, which is only a guess, Is that the
circuit committee, on the contrary, Is act
ing very slowly in order to block the pro-
gress of the association people as long as
possible.
One of these is worthy of belief as the
other but 1t is possible that the delay Is
caused by reasons that are internal and
not external. Instead of the committee
flirting with or trying to handicap the as
sociation's hackers. it is more probable that
the members of this important body are
not bothering about the proposed organ:za-
ton at ALL but are trying to convince each
other of what is the best way to accom-
plish the much-desired reduction of the
leagues circuit.
According to one Of the committee men,
ters, affairs have not been working smooth
ly. Where the hitch comes il he lid not
state, although the road toward reduction
was supposed to have been paved by the
action of the Brooklyn club in paying the
fine in the Wrigley case.
Players Must Hustle.
Whatever may be the cause of the de-
lay. whether it is for any of the reasons
mentioned or because of an intention to
buy out the Baltimore and Washington
clubs and transfer the Brooklyn owners and
players to Washington, it is certain that
the men employed in the various capacities
in the National League will have a lot OF
hustling to do later on. The plans OF the
league and of the individual clubs are far
behind for this period of the oft-seaSon and
the fans are becoming impatient to know
what they are to expect for the coming
season.
Aside from the main questions as to
whether there will be one league OF eight,
ten or twelve clubs or two eight-club or
ganizations, the schedule of games com
mands interest. Then there is the question
as to how many games will be played and
when the season will open and close.
Another item of interest concerns the ap-
pointment of the supervisor of umpres and
players. Then, too, there is the probability
of a number of changes in the rules, and
what interests the followers of the game
very much, how the various teams will be
made up and where they will go for their
spring training.
The majority of these questions will have
to be settled after the circuit committee
comes to some decision and the league
magnates meet again. The training quar-
tiers have only been decided upon by a
couple of clubs, and even the PhilEes are
rot sure of where they will get rid Of the
accumulation of winters rust in their
muscles and surplus avoirdupois. although
they will doubtless renew their acquain-
lance with the people and street cars Of
Charlotte, N. c.
In Case League is Reduced.