Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-03
Washington Clubs AnnualMeet-
ing Very Enthusiastic.
OLD DIRECTORS ELECTED
New Contracts Received and Go to
Players at Once.
NO SALARY REDUCTIONS HERE
Racing at New Orleans-Suburba
Entries Beat the Record-Turf
and Track Notes.

of the Washington base ball club was held
late yesterday afternoon in the office of
Secretary Benjamin Minor. President
Noyes called the meeting to order and MIR.
Berry was then called to the chair to act
as presiding officer.
An elaborate report was then read, telling
of the financial returns and playing results
of last season, and the report was ordered
adopted. There was no election of officers,
as detailed in a morning paper. as the
stockholders do not elect such officials.
This comes under the duties of the direc-
tors. The old board of directors was re-
elected and consists of Messrs. Noyes. Mi
nor, Rapley. Walsh, Blair. West and Bone.
or the 10000 shares of stock in the wash
ington club 5000 were voted yesterday. and
the directors We're elected unanimously.
The meeting was most enthusiastic one,
and everybody voiced the opinion of Presi-
dent NOyes that the coming sea son would
stlA be better than the last. A winning
team is wanted In Washington and Mana
ger Stahl will be given hearty support in
all his undertakings. Every one of the
stockholders present at Yesterday meeting
has the strongest admiration for the young
leader and believes in giving him every OPP
portunity to make good"
The board Of directors will meet in the
near future and then the officers for the
coming year will he elected.
New Contracts Received.
President Noyes received the first batch
OF new contracts from President Johnson
this morning and the players will soon re-
ceive their legal documents. The National
and American Lea CUES have adopted a uni
form contract for the use of all clubs In
the two organizations in the signing of
players. The contract has been drawn up
and approved by the national commission
and will be used in all cases hereafter. The
new contract differs in only three points
from the form which has been in general
use heretofore, and which is familiar to all
mall players. The first change occurs In
section >, which defines the length of time
during which the contract is operative.
Heretofore all contracts in the two big
leagues have been drawn up to cover the
six months from April 10 to October IL.
When the season began earlier than the
18th of April, therefore, the players We're
not technically under contract for the first
few days of the season. and had to be paid
extra for their time until April 10, when
their contracts went into operation. In the
new form the dates of the beginning and
end of the season are left blank, and are
10 be filled in each year. according to the
schedule. For instance. the season of 1906
will begin on April ~ The contracts for
next year will read from April II to Octo-
Der Il.
For Injured Players.
duction of the salary of a player who has
become incapacitated by reason of sickness
or injury The new form provides that no
such deduction shall be made, unless the
player Is out of the game for a period of
fifteen days if the injury was received In
the performance of his duty. Heretofore the
period of time mentioned in this contin-
gency has been left blank. Some clubs
filled in five days some thirty and on.
The time is now fixed at fifteen days in all
contracts. The most important changes is
the addition of a new section, which reads
as follows: 1T is further understood and
agreed between both parties to this con-
tract that they viii respect all OF the pro-
visions and conditions of the national agree
Inent-' This clause was inspired by the
celebrated Mike Kelley case. Kelley, though
player as well as a manager, neglected
to file his contract, played through the sea-
son without one and then claimed tmmu-
nifty from reservation. The new clause pro-
player to abide by all the provisions OF the
national agreement The uniform contract
as now drawn up, cannot be materially
changed by any club or player A nom
reservation agreement may be written in.
but no other alteration of Importance will
he allowed. A contract that Is materially
altered will not he accepted for promulga-
tion by the president of either league. The
national association may adopt a similar
contract and make it uniform in all the
leagues that belong to that body.
No Reductions Likely.
From Boston. Cincinnati Chicago. Pitts
burg and in fact from all parts of the
country have come reports of dissattsfac-
ton of players over contracts offered them
for the coming year Nothing definite has
been heard from the different magnates, so
these reports must be taken with grain
of salt An official of the Washington club
said this morning 10 Star reporter:
Il take very little stock in these reports
Of reductions IN salaries. In the first
place the American and National Leagues
agreed TO have uniform contract printed
for the coming season aud we have been
waiting on these documents. 1t is hardly
likely that any OF the magnates would have
sent out old contracts when they had
pledged themselves to abide by the new
one, and in fact l doubt IL any of the old
contracts would be honored by the national
commission.
There will be no sliclng of salaries In
Washington as Manager Stahl believes In
having satisfied players around him or let
ting them out. Every club In the Ameri-
can League made money last year, and for
this reason ! also doubt the reported re-
auctions. or course, in case OF contracts
that were given the players during the
war with the National League it is only
right that reductions should be made
Take the cases of Keeler, Wallace and
CHESHIRE. These players received all the
way from $1,000 10 $s.o00 last season. They
were signed through great stress of com
petition and It is only right that they
should now come down out of the clouds.
Shahey at Home.
Second Baseman Shafey recently signed
by the Washington club. has reached his
home IN Ohio from Los Angeles, where he
helped the team win the pennant. Shafley
said in an interview that he was pleased
with the idea OF playing with Washington
and Mr.. Mil or any other player would
have to hustle to keep him of the regular
team This Is the sort of talk the base ball
fans like to hear, and the youngster will
he given hearty welcome TO the national
capital.