The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-31
CATCHER KL|NG IS BACK IN THE FOLD Fine of S7O0 Is Imposed Upon
 The Popular Player MUST PAY IT HIMSELF kIing Must Fulfill His Contract for One More Season With the Cubs at the Salary as Originally Agreed Upon

Cincinnati, March 30.-John c. kling, the premier catcher of the Chicago Ma tionals, will be reinstated in organized baseball upon his payment of fine of $7o0, according to the decision of the na- iional commission, made public today. The decision was signed by Chairman August Hermann and Thomas J. Lynch, president of the National league. B. B. Johnson, president of the American league, did not sign.
 The commission will require Charles w. Murphy, president of the Chicago Ma tionals, to show cause why he should not be fined at least s900 for the violation of rule 47, which forbids a club to submit a new contract to an ineligible player, Fur ther1nore, the Chicago Nationals will not be allowed to trade, sell or release King for a season, nor will 1t be permitted to pay Kings line, directly or indirectly, under a "severe penalty
 Kling was fined soley for his connec- tion with the Missouri Athletic clubs semi professional team of Kansas City and his playing with and against in- eligible players during the time he was with that club.
 King was fined $20O for his faction with reference to his connection with the Missouri Athletic club and particularly in permitting an ineligible player (Frazer} to participate in games with that club"
 He will also be required to pay fine of s200 for his violation of rule 47 and s30O additional for his violation of that rule in defiance of the national commits sion's order not to do so.
 Kling will also be required to carry out the term of his original contract, which still has one more season to run. This called for a salary of $4500 a year. The commission states that Kings &C., ton cannot be termed a "violation of contract" as it has been understood and accepted in baseball law. In speaking of the leave of absence granted Kling by Murphy, on April 26, 1909, the decision says that Murphy's statements are mis- leading. It says that the leave of ab- sence has no bearing on the case it was not one entered into or agreed upon in good faith'
 The statement of King, that he did not know he was playing with or against ineligible players about Kansas City and in the series played with Chicago Is termed mot correct nor true,' in the decision.
 Abstract of Report
 Following is abstract of the report of the national commissions:
 The attention of the commission was called to the case by the player himself, John c. Kling. In reply to the national commission, under June 20, 1910, relative to his standing in organized baseball, he was informed that he was an ineligible player, and thereupon on February 3, 1910, he applied to the commission for reinstatement, stating in his application among other things that he had mot ir,,o ,,<rIxv ota of .,.1e organized baseball
 This case has been given so much at tention by the press and the baseball public in general that the commission passing thereon deems it advisable to go into all of the details in connection herewith.
 Here the commission gives history of Kings baseball career in Chicago and his reasons for not playing ball last year. The commission quotes Kling as follows:
 kling's Statement
 'I signed with the Chicago club for the years 197 1908 and 1909 at s5400 per year. I fulfilled two years of that con- tract to the best of my ability, and at the end of the second year invested all of my lfe's savings in a business ven ture which I felt I had to remain here to watch. When the management of the Chicago club ascertained this they gave me an indefinite leave of absence.
 And again my sole reason for not playing with the Chicago club last year was because I felt I could not afford at that time to trust my business in other hands. I had been operating my new billiard rooms only two months when the baseball season opened, and having invested every dollar in same that posse ssed did not think that I was vio- lating any rules under the national agree ment by staying here and endeavoring to establish a business that I felt would be the means of lifelong livelihood.
 Murphy's Letter
 It is stated that on April 26 1909, Pres- ident Murphy of the Chicago Nationals, sent the following letter to Kling
 Dear Sir-This is to formally notify you that you have been granted an in- definite leave of absence by the Chicago club"
 The first question to be decided, says the commission, is whether Klng Is guilty of contract violation," or fail ure to report" only, Rule 33, the com mission says Is directed at players who violate contracts and join at outlaw or ganization.
 Rule 38 is also cited as covering viola tion of contract cases, and 1t is noted that the joining of an outlaw organiza- ton is a necessary part Of the offense acording to this rule also.t | The Kling case, says the commission, I inasmuch as Kling did not join an outlaw organization, is different from any which have heretofore been before 1t and it's de- | cision will establish precedent as to whether or not player having entered l into a contract for period for more thar