Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-27
ARE THEY AMATEURS?
Status of Departmental Ball
Players Questioned.
AN INQUIRY PROBABLE
ALLEGED APPOINTMENTS TO
STRENGTHEN THE TEAMS.
Secretary Hitchcock Sets His Foot on
the Practice-Claims That It
Tends to Professionalism.
AN INQUIRY PROBABLE


Tends to Professionalism.
While as yet no official charges have been
filed il is understood that something will
be done in departmental circles looking to-
ward an investigation of the status of the
members of the various base ball teams that
represent the departments in the Depart
mental League 1t is openly charged that
a number of players on these teams have
been appointed to positions in the depart
ments in order that their services might be
obtained base ball players. 1t is asserted
that most of the best players in the league
were obtained in this manner and while no
official action has yet been taken to dis
cover the truth of the assertions that have
been made it is generally understood by
those familiar with the methods of past
pears that the practice of appointing men
to positions in the department in order to
secure their services on the base ball teams
Is being followed this season.
Practically Professionalism.
Such condition of affairs, it IS stated.
takes the Departmental League out of the
amateur class and makes 1t practically a
professional base ball organization. as the
make them eligible for the team all
good base ball players, and are practically
getting paid for playing ball, rather than
for the nominal employment given them in
the department during office hours. 1t is
charged that these men occupy all sorts of
positions. and that some of them are only
temporary appointees, who are being main
tanned on the rolls during the season only.
Some of the temporary places in the de-
partmental service pay good salaries when
the appointment is to fill a vacancy caused
by death or resignation. which the civil
service commission is not in position to
fill. and which it cannot fill for several
months until after an examination has been
held. Under these conditions a temporary
appointment is made. and such appoint
ments have been known to last as long as
six months.
1t is said the method followed in secur-
ing base ball players for the department
league is very simple. \ man who is
known TO be a good man at the bat on
the bases or in the field, or a good catch
er or pitcher, is introduced TO the mana
ger of the team. If the mar proves to be
satisfactory and is not in the departmental
service the manager of the team has an in
terview with the appointing power and a
place Is found for him somewhere in the
department service. AS a rule the base
pan players are given temporary appoint
ments when possible. but sometimes they
are put on the rolls as laborers as it is
not always possible to find temporary Job
for them.
Alleged Violation of Rules.
1t Is charged that such a method is in
direct violation of the civil service rules
and 1t is declared that it will be brought
to the attention of the heads of the de-
2artments 1t is not charged that all the
players on the department teams are en-
ployed as base ball players There are
many good base ball players regularly en-
rolled IN the department service. Many
years ago when professional base ball was
aew most of the best known players on
the old Nationals We're clerks in the de-
partments here, and they used their annual
cave to make trips about the country with
the teams to which they belonged. But
these men did not get appointments be-
cause they were base bali players or to
make them eligible 10 play bali.
1t Is openly charged that there are at
least three outside men on the team of the
Department of the Interior and one on the
War Department team. These men are
technically eligible to play because they are
employed at the departments they repre-
sent. but it is alleged in these four cases
that none OF the players was an employee
OF the government before the base ball sea-
son opened and that their appointments
date from the time they began to play ball.
Secretary Hitchcock's Opposition.
1t is also alleged that the heads of the
secretaries, are not aware of the appoint
ment of the ball players. At the Depart
ment of the Interior Secretary Hitchcock
while ardent fan and one of the most
frequent attendants at amateur games, set
his foot down hard on this tendency toward
professionalism and absolutely refused to
give even temporary appointments to two
men who were recommended early in the
season because they would make a good
battery for the Interior Department team.
The Secretary at that time condemned the
practice in strong terms. Secretary Hitch
cock is almost entirely patron of the anna
teur games. He was one of the largest
contributors to the base ball fund the
Department of the Interior this season.
There are a number of positions in the de-
partment, however, for appointment to
which the approval of the Secretary is not
necessary, and II is charged that three men
have been given positions of this character.
Whether or not the fine battery for the de-
partment team was secured in this manner
cannot be learned.
In the War Department a man was APP
pointed TO a position as checker of mate
rails shipped in order that he might play
on the team of that department. There
are said to be others in the War Depar--
ment also who obtained their positions
through their ability 10 play base ball.
The Commissioner Team.
The worst offender in the league. it is
asserted is the District Commissioners
team. There are number of players on
this team. it is asserted, who were ap-
pointed 10 POSITIONS IN the DISTRICT Dulioihs
solely because they could play base ball
and their services We're needed on the team.
Inquiry at other departments failed TO de-
velop any proven cases of this kind, but il
is said TO be matter of general knowledge
at all of them that appointments have been
made for the base ball team without re-
gard to civil service rules. In some in
stances persons appointed have passed
civil service examinations for "a position in
the classified service, but have been given
jobs laborerS ard other exempted classes
In order to secure them for the base ball
teams.
No charges have been fled at any of the
departments regarding the alleged profess
sionalism of the teams. but IL is stated that
the matter will be brough: to the attention
of the heads of the departments and bu-
reaus and that action will shortly be taken
looking to an investigation which will dis
cover the names and positions. occupied by
all men who have been appointed for this
purpose.