Evening star., 1909-02-18

| with the conteIfing factions of the league
| had caused him to fail in health and lose
| the cheerful disposition that he boasted
| of at one time.
Il expect" said President Pullam,
that there are enough of the opposition
to depoSe me as president, and, as a
matter of fact. / would not regret such
! action on their part. The job is thank
| less one for the most part. and the fric-
tion that one has to contend with is not
worth the trouble. AS a matter of fact l
did order DreyfuSs and EbbettS out OF my
| office In New York. and l would do the
same thing again if the circumstances
Were similar.
! But notwithstanding the difficulties eN-
| isting between some of the magnates and
| officials of the National League. the ses-
sion, which was held late yesterday after
noon. was harmonious for the most part
| Contrary to expectations. the reported at
tempt at bribing Umpires Klein and
| Johnstone during the Chicago National
and New York National series at the POLO
| Grounds was not referred to, and in All
proba blity the matter will not he brought
up for consideration at this session of the
| league.
| The proposed amendment to the national
| agreement in relation to the Class IA
| leagues was discussed at considerable
length and, while no definite action was
taken the sentiment of the league man
ayers appeared to be in favor of the
change \ similar spirit was manifested
at the Sc .sion of the American League
directors during their brief session
With this display of willingness on the
part of the major league magnates. II IS
probable that the American ASSOCIATION
Eastern League and Pacific Coast League
will be placed in class by themselves
according to their desire.
In the National League session IT was
decided to amend rule 81 SO that the UNI
pires would not have the power 10 hiie
pla yers or men on the coaching lines;
In future. violations of the rules OF 'ne n'.
national game may be punished 4oniy .!
1.-THE ordering of the offender to the ciup-
house, bat he may nOtitake up ,posluon
either in the grandstand or bleachers:
Another innovation was the adoptioh y.
Ia rule to the effect that managers OF
hon1e grounds will not be permitted to
voice any sentiment regarding ground
rules in case the visiting team enters
protest against exlstlng co.iu,tioiis. 10
The umpire is to be the sole 1udge III
such an emergency.
In the major league clubs it was de-
,cided by the rules committee that limit
of twenty-five players shall be the MAXI
mrim during the playing season on anu
after May 15 and thirty-fve during the
so-called .off season which precedes the
warmer contests of the clubs striving for
pennant honors.
Pitchers to Stick.
After considerable discussion the COM
mittee decided to stop the practice of GER
tam snauagers in shifting. pitchers during
rthe course of games in order to- give their
teams an advantage when the batters IN
the opposing teams were showing 100
great strength at the plate. When one
pitcher is taken out his successor must
remain in the box until he has retired at
least one man. 80
The scoring rules were amended'at the
suggestion of a committee of sporting
writer's. and it was decided that the uni
pires in the minor leagues might use
their own judgment in the matter OF inn
posing. fines. In the major leagues the
fines in the past have been settled by the
clubs, and as result the penalty did not
fall sufficiently heavy on the playing Of
fender. For this reason It was decided
that in the minor leagues where the
fines imposed by umpires have been set
tied in the majority of instances by the
PLAYERS the rule be allowed to stand for
the good of the base ball game.
President ComiSkey of the Chicago
American League team announced that
he had secured Pitcher Jerry Donovan
of the Detroit team, and President MUIR
ply congratulated himself upon obtaining
the services of Pitchers Donahue and
Ferguson of the Boston Nationals. Catch
er James of the Boston Americans, it
was announced had been secured by the
mana cement of the New York American
of the Boston American League club was
another who appeared pleased because of
the acquisition of: Louis Wolter. formerly
of St Louis, the left-handed pitcher, and
acceptable outfielder, to his staff of play