New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-07
SECRET. FOOTBALL TALK
Conference Rules Committee Meets
to Mature It's Plans.

to Mature It's Plans.
The rules committee Of the national intercol-
1eetate football conference held five hour ses-
sion behind closed doors in the Murray Hill
Hotel Yesterday Professor James T. Lees, OF
the University Of Nebraska, was not able TO at
+and but the other six were on hand, including
DR. Henry L. Williams. Minnesota; Lieutenant
Charles D. DAILY West Point: DR. James A. Bah
bitt Haverford; F. Homer Curtis University Of
Texas; E K Hall, Dartmouth. and C. w. Saw
age. Oberlin.
Colonel Howse of West Point was in confer
ence with the committee for an hour or more.
and then left. 1t was explained that he was
there to give some information which the COM
mittee desired. but there seemed to be more or
less mystery in his visit.
DR. Williams chairman of the committee, said
that the purpose of the meeting was to mature
plans as far as possible to carry out the in
structions of the conference whether amalgama-
ton with the old rules committee was effected
or not. The meeting adjourned. to meet again
at o'clock Friday evening at the Murray
Hill Hotel which is the same hour that the old
rules committee is scheduled to meet in this city,
probably at the University Club.
Dr. Williams said that up to this time the
committee had had no official notification or
what action the universities represented on the
old committee had taken on the question VI
amalgamatfon. and in no better position
than anybody else to say what the final out
come would be. He had nothing Of definite
nature to say as to what the committee did
yesterday but admitted that it had been con-
sidering in a general way the best means OF
modifying the rules from g. technical stand
point in order to accomplish the reform that II
was committed to by the resolution Of the gen
eral conference. which involved a more open
game, the elimination of rough and brutal play
ing and the efficient enforcement of rules. for
which penalties are given. He said further;
We have great deal to do and much of It could
old rules committee on the question of amalgama-
ton There is work before US even IL a we t tTst
as it may take two or three months to accomplish
eral study of the whole subject, but reached no
conclusions which could be put IN form Tor Puoic3
n GH wh feo old rules Committee we agree the
main on the general lines for reform
The committee made public a letter sent day
or two ago to Harvard, Yale, Princeton. Penn
sylvania Cornell and Annapolis, which simply
outlined the position of the conference commit
tee and what had been done to this time The
purpose of the letter was to bring the matter
in formal way to the heads of the universities.
The letter follows:
At the national convention held in New;York,
ditions now present In the country with an end
to improving the present game OF football ana
eliminating present objections and abuses AFTER
much delibera ton committee OF seven men rep
elected to act as a committee on rules
This committee was instructed to meet the pre-.
viously existing rules committee and request mat
body to unite with them and that the two COM
mtttees be aTnalgamated into one Whlcn snouIo
then constitute an official national committee Oh
rules -, ....1 .L.
COMMITTEES that in event Of being unable to bring
about amalgamation the conference committee
ChO11ld oot i06a o
football rules. which should be used by the col
leges ratifying and adopting the actions OF the
Acting under these instructions. the COMMITTEES Of
previously existing rules committee and submitted
FIrst-that the two committees be amalgamated
into national committee, to meet annually 40
the erasen an scaSs e al
notifications OF the existing rules at each annual
Third That executive committee Of five ,l be
chosen from the natG sn res ed6 op vine the
recommendations of the national committee. .,
committee be made up of three from the present
rules committee and two from the New-York con-
F4fth-That the rules determined upon by the ex;
ecutye commttee be suomted 10 S the
sxthUPon ratification by mS1or ne Of fbs she gg
rules for the ensuing year. ~.
follows hoS sep'y ie''iSso ~ oon,
bers have no power. without first consulting thelr
respective institutions, to amalgamate with the
committee appointed by the New y ork confer
ments of the playing rules looking to the better
ment of the game. we invite them TO meet with
sion Of such amendments The members of this
committee viii obtain definite Instructions ir ron
communicate the results at an early date
affne Wha action may be taken by the colleges
represented by the previously exlstlng Iues com
mfttee I'm regard 10 whether these two committees
may be amalgamated into a national committee
as that suggested by this committee