The Jersey City news., 1905-01-27
SALARIES WILL
NOT Be CUT
an johnson President Of
American Baseball Lea
que Indignant Over
Rumors.
sOOp PAY FOR GOOD PLAY
Minors Will Be Treated Fair-
" Says Johnson The Tay-
lor Episodes
soOp PAY FOR GOOD PLAY

Ban Johnston, president of the Anleri-
can League, who has been inWashing-
ton trying to affect deal whereby the
club of that city can be taken off the
hands Of the American League, was in
New York yesterday. johnson appears
TO be very much put out about the state
1nent that the American League had or
dered a heavy cut in salaries. That
story evidently originated" said john
son, because at the meeting Of the Ma
tional Committee in Cincinnati | asked
President Powers of the Eastern League
what the monthly salary limit Of his
league was, and his answer was So, 400
per team. then inquired of Mr.. Tebeau
the salary limit Of the American Asso-
citation, ana he. too, said it was $2,400,
but that his clubs had been paying
$500.
Here was an acknowledgement" said
President Johnson, .'that the clubs of
these two leagues were operating far
above their limit, and vet We're asking the
American League to help them out by
paying more money for the players we
drafted under an agreement that was
signed in good faith by all the parties
gathered at Cincinnati" /"
President johnson says that the Amer
lean League is treating the players fairly
but they cannot expect war time salaries
in time of peace. Both the American and
National Leagues, he contends, have
clubs who cannot afford to pay fancy sal
aries, but the American League has no
limit. According to President johnson,
the young, untried players picked up by
the American League may think it prop
er to ask for big salaries, even before
showing what they can do, but as less
than oneethird of the youngsters will be
retained it would be an injustice, he
thinks, to sign such players at large sal
aries, and then turn them back to the
minors, where they would still demand
salaries impossible to pay. 'The Ameri-
can League Mr.. johnson says. "will al
ways pay good salaries when the business
allows it, and will always be very slow
about ealing for cut when the players
can play the kind of ball demanded in
the American League"
When the joint committees of the ma
jor leagues meet in New York, probably
on Monday, February 20, President
johnson says the minor leagues Will
surely receive concessions from the
American League. .sThe lague of which
am president johnson says, lis re-
sponsible for the national agreement that
now holds base bah together, with the
minor leagues a party to that document
We have lived up to that agreement
faithfully. and there are but few minor
leagues dissatisfied with present condi4-
ions. The feeling among our club own
ers is that we should be generous to the
smaller leagues, but at the same time we
must go about the changes asked for
carefully, as it means giving away some
thing for a considerable return.s
Regarding the playing schedule Of the
American League Mr.. johnson says that
there viii be no open dates in the East.
The Eastern clubs win visit the West
tirst, after playing series among them
selves Mr.. Johnson further says that
there win be but few changes in the play
ing rules. The foul strike rule is likely
10 remain. and there will be no attempt
to handicap the spit bal pitchers.
Speaking Of the Pitcher Taylor epi-
sode. President johnson says he wants to
see the matter carefully investigated and
the blame placed where it belongs. He
believes that either Hart or Taylor must
step down and ont. All that Taylor asks
for i fair. hearing before the National
CoEnission." Mr.. johnson says. 9Presi-
dent Comistey, of the Chicago American
i.eague Club, is anxious TO show that he
was not mixed up with tie players Of
had reputation. Taylor is a National
Ieas;le player and it is up to that league
70 act, as We want no player in base
bali such as President Hart describes"
Tie trading Of Pitcher Hughes Of the
Y asbingtop Club, for Pitcher Winter of
fhe Boston Club. Is a natter, Mr.. John
son says, that he did not htink ne shonld
he mixed up with. He has no doubt.
however. but that such deal can be
nlade when the proper parties get to-
eether ka
stff s1r~. ~. f-B