The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-04
CONSOLIDATION IDEA IS
A THING OF THE PAST
National League Gives a Perma-
nent Franchise to the Eight
Cities.>
THE RIDGEWOOD DECISION
New York Americans Cannot Play
Sunday Games at the Place
Named.

NEW YORK. March 3.-TIfe members of
the National League, at their meeting to-
day. ratified the report of the joint commit
tee on playing rules and adopted the report
of the committee consisting of Messrs.
Brush, Hermann and Potter, appointed at
the annual meeting last fall TO revise the
constitution. The new constitution makes
some radical changes, and completely dis
poses of any idea that either league may
have had in favor of consolidation. The
name is changed TO read National League
of Professional Baseball Clubs" and the
report says that it shall consist of eight
cities-Boston, New York, Brooklyn, Phil
adelphia, Pittsburg, Cincinnati, st. Louis
and Chicago-for all time
Section OF the constitution formerly
read, cor such other cities which may be
elected to membership by the league" By
its action the National League gives a per-
manent franchise to the eight cities named.
President Pulliam explained it thus
Owners of clubs may change. but the
cities where the clubs are located cannot
be changed unless by another change in the
constitution of the league"
In Section 5. referring to the admission
of clubs, the word CLUB" is now made to
read company" the league in this manner
reserving the right to control its own men,
bership.
Heretofore in the expulsion of a club it
has required the unanimous vote of the
eight clubs to expeL This has been changed
to read unanimous vote of seven clubs, "
ii being taken for granted that the club TO
be expelled would not vote for it's own ex-
pulsion.
According to the new constitution the
board of directors may be called to meet at
any time by the president or by two di-
rectors.
A new clause that favors the players has
been added to Section 26 and reads as fol-
lows:
Any player under contract or reserva-
ton who may consider himself unjustly
treated or wronged by his club shall have
the right to submit his case to the president
of the league, who shall, after soliciting
evidence concerning the matter, present the
same to the board Of directors for hear
ing, recommendation or adjudication"
This gives any player the right to appeal
any real or fancied grievance he may have
to the president of the league. The new
constitution makes the punishment of a
player who shall be disqualified for any
crookedness' blacklsted forever. By the
old constitution the player could be rein
stated by three-fourths vote.
The position OF supporting umpire is
abolished.
The following resolution offered by Ed
ward Hanlon, of Brooklyn, was unanimous
ly adopted:
Resolved. That no club, member of the
National League, shall play any game of
baseball with any independent professional,
semi-professional amateur club contain
ing in its team any player players in
eligible under the rules of the national
agreement, under suspension by any
clubs of the National League, American
League or National Association; and. fur
thermore. that no game Of baseball shall be
played by G-y National League club with
any independent club that shall have played
any game with any other independent club
containing such ineligible or suspended
player as hereafter described"
BY resolution offered by Max Fleischman,
of Cincinnati. the president is to instruct
ali umpires and notify all club managers
that after the umpire has called play at
the beginning of any championship games
there shall be no presentation of any char
acter TO any player or manager upon the
ball field.
Chairman Hermann, of the National
Baseball Commission, to-day handed down
a decision in the matter of Sunday ball
games at Ridgewood, l.. l. He decides
that the New York American League Club
cannot play Sunday ball at that place as ii
would be a violation of the national agree
ment.