Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-28
NATIONAL LEAGUE MEETING
ASSOCIATION IS REFUSED
SUPPORT BY MAGNATEs,

The National League magnates were in
session all of yesterday and last night the
adjournment being made at an early hour
this morning. The most important matter
before the gathering was the consideration
of the claims Of the American Association
which desired the support, of the National
League that had been promised when the
organization was first whipped into shape.
President Power and W. H Watkins were
before the meeting Of the magnates for sey-r
eral hours and at late hour last night the
announcement was made that the American
Association could be classed as thing Of
President Power was the last to give. up. d.
He waited all day hoping to get hearing
for his organization. Members of the as
ISOLATION bitterly accused the "fhaghates'' !
aid to their association and thus caused tts
demise. The league was said to have prom
ised to finance the association in at least
three cities of its circuit. Lack of funds
was the cause conceded for the associa
tons death. - -:
At the close of the session the new rules
were announced. Asrule was adopted wfI1cH
does away with the intentional "fouling off,
of pitched balls by batslnan. The first
and second foul balls hit by the batsman
unless two strikes have already been called
against him shall henceforth be counted
strikes. :, tEi-Hf
Catching Up Behind the Bat.
Rule No. 3, defining the position of the
catcher's lines. was altered so that the.
catcher will have to stand within ten feet
instead of ninety feet of the plate. This
places the catcher up behind the bat
throughout a game.
A rule making the pitcher deliver the ball
to the batsman as soon as the batsman
takes his position at the plate was adopted.
Should pitcher deliver the ball to any other
place than the plate ball will be called
for each delivery. A rule was passed which
penalized one ball against the pitcher II he
fail to deliver the ball to the batsman with
in twenty seconds after the latter has taken
his position.
A rule passed empowering the UNI
| pire to remove from the game and, If need
| be. from the grounds any player guilty OF
| using improper language to another player.
proof of the ofrense must be submitted to
| the president of the League within twenty
| four hours who may, if the proof be salts
| factory suspend the offender from play.
| President Freedman OF the New York
| club wanted power given to the managers
| of teams to remove the offending player
| in case the umpire refused to act. but his
| suggestion was not adopted.
Hit by Pitched Ball.
batsman may not henceforth take his
| base If hit by pitched ball, but the ball
| will count as a ball against the pitcher.
| Several rules COnulCtlHS Will the CIldHSeS
| named were stricken out or changed to
| conform to the alterations.
Article "a of the constitution was amend
! ed to read that the board of directors
shall have the power of infiicting penalties
| in cases of forfeited games In case Of a
| forfeited game the board shall convene
within a week and hear the evidence. 1t
| shall decide what penalty to impose the
club offending. In the past the FORGETTING
club had to pay a penalty forthwith and
then wait months, perhaps, for a decision
on the merits of the case by the board.
The penalty is not payable under the new
rule until after the board of directors has
given its decision. --
1t was learned late last night that Presi-
dent Freedman of the New York club had
| left the meeting in great anger because
| the delegates refused to adopt his sugges-
| ton regarding the removal of a player
| from a game. President Freedman's amend
ment was:
I'm case the umpire refuses to act the
| club officials shall have the player Offend
| ing removed from the grounds forthwith"
| He said: "This power has been in the
| hands Of the umpres a long time and they
! have been criticised for failure to act
| promptly and energetically. The matter
| has been put to the magnates and they
| have refused to take action. Until some
| proper and adequate action be taken shall
have no more to do with the league base
| ball" He then hurried frUm the room.