The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-09
BROOKLYN PAYS ITS DEBTS.
ABELL AND EBBETs WIPE u 4
$4,000 BOND ISSUE.

season Have Been underestimated
League MAgnstes' statements Rsfute 4
Abel Oncrs IN Interesting Argument.
II has been stated by League msgnates
notably Brush. sodsn. Wagner md Freedman
that the Brooklyn club Is not q desirable mem
Der OF the League and that II II were possible
the Washington club would be included In the
proposed Eight Club Circuit instead. This
assertion has been prompted by the enmity OF
the New York Club to tho Brooklyns. chiefly
because the latter produced q champion.
ship team last season. The New
York Clubs president has openly admitted that
he wants all OF the Greater New York territory
20 himself. but this appears 10 be IN impos-
sibility. As evidence that the enemies Of
the Brooklyn club have not been speak
ing by tho card. +. A. Abel and Q. II.
Ebbets. who hold half Of the Brooklyn clubs
capital stock. have wiped out oil OF the clubs
indebtedness. They have practically paid on
a bond and mortgage amounting to $4,000.
which leaves the books OF the club In clean
shape.
In 1895. when the Brooklyn club was in
financial straits. there wa a bond issue to tide
matters over. No assistance was asked from
them. National League, however, aud the
maRnates were loud in the praises OF the
Brooklyn owners. when the Brooklyn .Balti.
more consolidation was consumma;ed last
year. part OF the agreement was to the effect
that Abel and Ebbets should wipe out the
debts OF the old Brooklyn club. while Won der
Horst and Hanlon should look after the debts
OF the old Baltimore club. Having enjoyed a
profitable season last year At Washington
Park. the Brooklyn officials. when asked how
much money was made. refused to tell. II was
roughly estimated. however. that $45. 900 was
a fair figure. But 1t now turns out that nearly
twice that amount was locked away In the sac.
The bond issue has Ave, years 70 run yet, but
thought It best to settle up accounts withost
further delay.
1t is understood that the cash is In the hands
& slf 'l ESts ss!0f Hsniio %nd a ma v s'a't d eIFf HUasi
sanction the payment legal papers will be
signed and the money will be turned over TO
t aso f hss Voian, ,hf p%ii, aTa'shsS one no Ss,1s fo AO sss;
money has been formally paid. there win
be one DEBT Of small eoass9pe1es re:
given time. Though he has carefully refused
to discuss the affair OF the Brooklyn club
since the Freedman crowd started to injurs It
and II possible drive II out OF the League. Abel
consented yesterday 70 make these remarks:
The Brooklyn club. since its organization
eighteen years ago, has always stood upon It's
own bottom. In that m the club has eX-
pended 100000 for ball players. We have
never asked the League TO strengthen our
team gratis and have always paid for, every;
thing We wanted. Since Joining the. National
League in 1870 we have met all obligations
and have always acceded 20 the demands Of
the other clubs, Personally. ! have stood a
s sGss SGss az 70 70 nearly saf u.s. ss S.651. yet z / u ,sse I ssIsd
the League to help me out, rs the New. York
club did at one time, when with others I sub
scribed my share tO keep II alive.
TO assist the League ir It's efforts to smooth
matters over after the d. disastrous brotherhood
war in 1890. which the Brooklyn club took no
p myse II s DTl 7 q Sn; s .n1 ssse En- the e{ srook aSn
Brotherhood club. At old Washington Park we
made plenty Of mo1ey. but we SACRIFICED that
Spo d 1 psT 9e !Si the 81 o aes s { to ss &c Bilot No ssSSi
club people and moved out to Eastern Park.
which proved to be a white elephant from the
s sIsnse m nSs.n :. m nsy as L I ,hs fsav sy u, fh's
dollar. bur plugged along az well as we could.
Finding that we could not get out OF the
mire, We 9ougnt out the Brotherhood people
our new grounds at Washington Park, which
cost us close 10 10000 IN accomplishing this
object. we once again refrained from ask ng
our partners in the League for financial aid.
Ereterring 70 go a.onR IN the same old way.
Then. rs a final Effort to benefit the League ut
our own expense, we made the deal
involved the M Of siO.006 cash TO the
Byrne estate. and produced what the public had
demanded all alOng-H remnant winner. Last
season the Brooklyn club paid the biggest sal
aries in the country. We spared no expense to
give tlrlt-class baseball. and we won the League
pennant because we had the best ball team in
the and In return for this. we made money.
which, ! believe. was Il reward Tor our persist.
encp.
As IN the past. the BIoOklyn club does not
ask for any assistance from the League. Ne
are ready 70 pay the best prices for good play
er- aud ARE also willing to pat up our share to-
ward reducing the circuit and building up the
game. All we desire is fair deal from the
men who have matters In charge. Our record
speaks for itself and the support We received
from tn" public last year was good enough
PROOF that We ENJOY the conf ence OF the
pa rons u basehal in this ,ity. The gentle
men oi tn League may heat Us, perhaps, in
hotel corridor, during The winter months. but
We viii return Ihs compliment on the diamond
next summrr. The public wants winning
baseball and il already Disguised with the
methods OF The mn who cont HOl the game"
Abelps statement does not agree with the re-
marks Of Free IMAM that the Brooklyn club
should be. disciplined for the good OF
baseball. While the Brooklyn club with
a pennant winner, was coming money last
year. the New York club. with a poor team.
rolled up a loss that was the greatest in the
history OF that organization. Yet Soden OF
Boston and Brush OF Cincinnati, who hold
stock IN the New York club. have been quoted
~ saying that they heartily approve Of Freed
mans management. Both OF them lHst fail
voted TO pay to Freedman another 10000
sulary for this year.