Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-14
National Commission Decides
Upon Outlaw Players.
SEBRlNG CASE HELD UP
Rules Committee Meets Today and
Radical Action Probable.
SMATHERS RETAINS GOLD CUP
Championship Squash Tourney-Golf
at Pinehurst-Intercity Billiards
New Orleans Races.
RETAINS GOLD CUP

NEW YORK, February 14.-Settnng TWO
cases In which the New York National
League Club was interested and putting
sharp check on Jimmy Sebring. the Chi
cago player, who is charged with inducing
players to jump their contracts and sign
with outlaw" clubs. was the principal
business transacted yesterday by the
national base ball commission, which met
in the St. James building.
The full board was present, comprising
Chairman Garry Hermann of Cincinnati,
President Harry Pulliam of the National
and President Ban Johnson OF the Ameri-
can League.
The Memphis club OF the Southern
League filed a claim against the New York
club for $3.50 for the release of Charley
Babb to the Giants in 1902. The player
jumped from the Indianapolis club to Men,
phfs during that season. New York bought
his release from Indianapolis, to which
club he was under contract. President
John T. Brush produced the original con-
tract for $3.50. paid to Indianapolis, and
the commission decided that Memphis had
no claim.
Memphis was also mixed up in the
Giants second case. 1t involved the play
ing OF an exhibition game in Memphis on
March next. The Giants and the Phila-
delphia Athletics both claim that date.
Sebring Case.
sion's decision was that ut has come to
the knowledge of the commission that the
player had been erdeavoring to sign, and
I'm some cases had signed players of clubs
working under the national agreement to
contract with clubs not under said agree
ment- Sebriug is notified to present his
defense, If he has any. to he national COM
mission inside OF twenty days
Red Owens, who jumped the Brooklyn
club in midseason; Jack Hayden. who broke
his contract with Baltimore; Doc Reising,
who skipped from Brooklyn, and Pitcher
Rtchey, who also gave Brooklyn the cold
shoulder, made application for reinstate-
ment. All were denied.
In the case of Hayden, who appeared in
person before the commission, 1t was de-
Ctded that there being eXtenuating circum-
stances in his case, Hayden. at the end of
next season. will be granted another hear
ing without prejudice. The extenuatng cir
Cumstances are that Hayden was twice
carved up" by Brooklyn for the Baltimore
club and thereby prevented from "advanc-
ing in his profession"
The case of Ambrose Putnam, who was
sold by the New York Americans to the
Toronto Eastern League Club and now
claimed by the Philies. was again taken up.
No decision was given.
Rules Committee to Meet.
President Pulliam decided to call a meet
ing of the National League rules commit
tee for today at L o'clock. They will meet
the American League committee in joint
session in Pulliams office in the ST James
building.
In spite of the apparent opposition of the
National League. there is a growing senti
ment among the base ball men now IN this
city favOring some change in the rules that
will increase batting The American
League, through President Ban Johnson.
has placed Itself on record in favor of more
hitting. and Clark Griffith. one OF the men,
bers of tn, rules committee. has formulated
II modification OF the foul strike rule which
he feels sun = Will bring about the desired
result. Ano' her American League man has
also suggested that the number of called
balls should ne reduced from four to three.
an arrangement which surely would lessen
the effectiver ess of the pitchers.
The so-called joint rules committee which
Is supposed to consider all such changes, Is
made up of three members from each of the
big major leagues--Griffith, Mack and
Noyes from the American and Murphy.
Hanlon and Dreyfuss from the National.
1t IS the business of this commit tee to agree
upon amendments TO the playing code, which
must be afterward ratified by the leagues
themselves a majority vote can carry one
OF these amendments in committee. But as
the case stands at present. there will be
deadlock, no matter what suggestions may
come up, for the reason that the committee
representing the National League is op-
posed 20 any changes prompted by their
opponents.
Pulliam Off High Horse.
A few days ago the president of the Ma
tional League went so far as to say that he
did not believe his committee would meet
the Americans until after the sessions OF
the two leagues were at an end but such
an act OF discourtesy has been avoided by
the announcement that the two committees
VIII come together today. But unless there
Is change OF sentiment on the part of the
National League men there will be nothing
doing, so that this conference seems to be
supertiuous. The minor leagues, however,
Will not be controlled by petty jealousy, II
appears, for one OF their leading represent
tatives, 7. III. Murnane. said last night at
the Fifth Avenue Hotel:
We will go ahead and change the rules
TO increase batting no matter what the at
tttude of the big leaguers may be To us
the three-ball rule looks to be the solu ion
OF tie problem, although the modified foul
strike rlay be the thing instead. 1t seems
a pity that the base ball rules cannot be
overhauled without ill-feeling."
There are twenty-six minor leagues band
ed together under the title OF the National
Association OF Professional Base Bail
Leagues. IL they decide to change the play
ing rules they will put the two major or
CARNATIONS on their mettle. They may also
influence the American League to join them
in the present crusade against weak hitting.
be left IN rather odd predicament. Leav-
the country the magnates would find that
either change suggested by the American
League men would be welcomed