The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-16
FANS MADE HAPPY
 BY MANY CHANGES Birmingham Will Finish at Home in Long Series MON TG0MERY TO REMAIN New Financial Scheme Will Make the League More Solid--Charters Are
 Extended Five Years for
 All Clubs.
MON TGOMERY TO REMAIN
BY BOHEMIAN c. BULeER.

Atlanta, Ga., December 15.-(special.)- In meeting where absolute harmony pre- vailed the representatives of the various cities of the southern league did two things today which means much happi- ness to the rooters of the eastern circuit. The season will be heightened to 140 games insteof 126, and all the western clubs will finish the season on eastern grounds.
 In other words Birmingham will wind up the coming campaign with long series of games at home and at last chance has come to break three years chain of final defeats. A brilliant stroke of diplomacy, originated by Abner Powell. lifted the guarantee of all clubs to s75 A game instead of $50, putting Shreveport and Montgomery on an equal footing with the larger cities and thus finally disposing of the Chattanooga claims which threat ened to cause split in the ranks of the magnates.
 Lengthen Franchises.
 To further hold in tack the present cir cult, Coffee Jackson successfully lead a movement to lengthen the life of present franchises five years after their expira- tion two years hence. Each club will be provided with a franchise drawn up in the shape of a charter and this will give all towns feeling of security that can't be disturbed by rumors about certain cities being dropped Unless something extraordinary occurs the league for seven more years will be composed Of Che cities now holding franchises. A representative of the Chattanooga interest on hearing of the move disgustedly remarked: From now on I am through with baseball and the Southern league can go to the region where icebergs are not known"
 The election of officers was merely an incident and evidently had been cut and were no surprises.
 The officers are as follows
 President Kavanaugh was reelected unanimously James Palmer of Nashville was selected as vice-president, and Presi- dent Kavanaugh will serve also as secre- tary and treasurer. The directors chosen are Captain Crawford, Shreveport; F. T. Morril, New Orleans; James Palmer of Nashville, and Colonel Holt of Montgom- cry.
 President Kavanaugh was empowered to select a committee to aid him in pre- pairing the schedule for the season. The pennant for 1903 was awarded to Mem phis ona standing of .5S9. Jackson to Front.
 Birmingham was very much in evidence at the meeting and Coffee Jackson car- ried off the honors by a financial plan which will make the Southern league the strongest minor association in the United States. Under this plan as adopted. the surplus over expenses derived from tho 10 per cent of gate receipts sent to the president of the league after each game, will be used as permanent sinking fund until 1t has reached $10.000. This will be used as a permanent guarantee fund for everything and when that amount has been accumulated none of the clubs will be required to put up $500 every year as the present laws call for. Each franchise will thus have a represented value of $1250 and the franchise can be used as col- lateral security when any team needs run ming expenses for a short time.
 Before surrendering the floor MT. Jack son, in a Imaginable colloquy with Char ley Frank. recalled the affair at Birming- ham last season when several Memphis players were arrested and Frank refused to play unless the fines were paid. In view of the fact that Birmingham could not afford to lose the gate receipts for the S1OO which Frank would have been fined,
 
 which refu-cs to play a game be fined S3OO The big figures jared several of the magnates for a moment but the mo- ton was unanimously carried. Hereafter refusal to play ball will cost some team dearly
 Rain Check System.
 Next season rain checks will be good unless five full innings of game have been played. The old system of taking money for three innings was found to be unsatisfactory and 1t was decided to give the spectators the benefit of a game or give them back their money in case of rain
 All clubs next season will be compelled to wear white uniforms at home. Wis iting clubs can wear any color, but not white. This was done to prevent specta tors getting confused as to the Identity of the players.
 Birminghams colors will be blue on the road and white at home. It was an- nounced tonight that Atlanta had bought Doc Lowney from Nashville
 RICHARDSON TURNED DOWN. Alahanoa Streams Will Not Be Damned