Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-05

CINCINNATI, January 5.-After near
Ing testimony and arguments for over SIX
hours the national base ball commission
in session here yesterday on the case Oh
the American Association and the Eastern
League, which have asked to be put IN
special class. adjourned until today Prac-
tically all of the testimony is in. but there
Is still little to be heard and then the
commission desires to consider the case
at length before making any decision In
the matter.
Despite the fact that this case took up a
world of time the commission transacted
considerable business during the early
party of it's session inasmuch as II rein
stated that celebrated contract jumper.
Jimmy Sebring, and likewise reinstated
and rejected a number of other players
whose applications came up at the meet
ing.
1t was 10 o'clock before the commission
got down to real. good hard work. ana
the first thing accomplished at the meet
ing was the election of August Hermann
to succeed himself as chairman OF the
commission and also the reelection OF
John f. Bruce as secretary of the SUI
preme court of base ball.
Hardly had this been accomplished ana
vote of thanks awarded to these two
peIofc tie dppifCdtioh VI ~
Ward was brought up. Ward has been
playing with the Altoona club of the Fri
State League, but the influence brought
to bear by President Carpenter OF the III
State League was effective and Ward was
reinstated providing that he pay a fine Oh
$780,
Lucky Sebring.
Then came the application of Doc Refs
ling and for various reasons the COM
mission did not make public his appllca-
ton and it was rejected. The next appil-
cation was that of Sebring, and in this
case the wise bunch was fooled. inasmuch
as all of the base ball men in town were
thoroughly convinced that Sebr1ngs ap-
plication would go the way that 1t mas
gone for the last two years, when the
national commission turned down this
self-same application, but there were a
few new conditions that were brought TO
the mind of the commission In this case,
as well as the fact that Sebring has been
under the ban for long time now.
Therefore the commission took favor
able action on his case and decided that
he be reinstated. providing that he pay
fine of $500. There is an extra condition
attached to this finding. however, and
that is that the club that purchases this
player must pay back to the Cincinnati
club, to whom Sebring was indebted, the
amount of his indebtedness
The commission decided that major
league clubs might hereafter purchase
players after December l, instead OF
after February 1.
Light Fines for Locals.
Players Freeman, johnson. Jesse Tame
hill and Kelley. all of the Washington
club of the American League. were REIN
stated and fined 5000 However, $50 OF
each sentence was suspended.
of
the Canton (Ohio) club to be declared a
free agent was granted and the Canton
club was ordered to pay $12o back salary
to Munson.
Player Tate's claim of $12o from the
Marion (Ohio) club was rejected, while
Player John Innes, formerly OF the Hav-
erhi1l (Mass.) club. who was under con-
tract to the Philadelphia Americans and
drafted by Denver, was awarded to Phil
adelphia.
The claim for $3.50 Of the Detroit Ameri-
cans against the Johnstown (Pa.) club of
the Tri-State League was granted for
half the sum.
The schedule committee of the National
have met yesterday, did not do so. but
will probably meet in about ten days In
Cleveland, Ohio.
The reason for the change is that Pres
ident johnson misunderstood the orders
of the two leagues regarding this meet
ing, Issued at New York, and did not
bring his schedule with him.
Notables Present.
The lobby of the Sinton Hotel was
crowded with men of the base ball world.
Among them were Presidents Car
son of the Central League. OBrfen OF
the American Association. Patrick Pow
ers of the Eastern League, T. NJ Shively
of the Western Association. B. A.
49, ir,rt I IN OIL
NJ. Kavapaugh of the Southern League,
NJ. A. Sexton OF the Three l League, D.
Cal Ewing of the Pacific Coast League,
j. H. Farrell of the New York state
League and Charles Carpenter OF the
Tri-State League; Ned Hanlon of Balti-
more, McCafferty of Montreal, Chaplin
of Rochester Potter of Buffalo, Duny or
Providence and Armour OF Toledo
President Joseph O'Brien of the Amer
lean Association announced that ne mao
signed Umpire Owens of Kansas city
to officiate during the coming season at
American Association games.
Owens umpired fifteen games of the
National League last season, and there
was no idea that he would not ofhc1ate
at National League games this season.
President Herrmanns report In refer
ence to the ticket scalping during the
worlds championship games In chicago
read as follows:
LAS in the past the series as played
was of the highest standard and met
with the approval of the base ball pub
lie, the only unfortunate thing in con-
nection Herewith being the manner In
which the sale of the tickets for the
series was handled in the city of Chi
cago. On investigating this matter,
enough evidence was submitted to show
conclusively that a change must be made
in the future to protect the public. With
that end in view. the commission will
hereafter handle the sale of every ticket
during the worlds series under detailed
rules to be hereafter adopted.
Ea{fu NrTnfure in Hospital