The Washington times., 1910-10-29
WHY DOES COMMISSION
RECEIVE 10 PER CENT?

Why should the National Commits
sion-Byron Bancroft Johnson. presi-
dent nf the American League. Thomas
I J. Lynch, president OF the National
League, and August Hermann. presi-
I dent OF the Cincinnati cIub-come IN
for 10 per cent Of the receipts o. all
post-season interleague games?
Certainly, II is all right 10 have a
commanding power In baseball, and
one 70 settle all disputes and keep out
the crooked work II there wasn't
the game today would not be what il
is.
That is not the point however. Here
It is:
Why should the National Commits
sion receive 10 per cent Of the gross
receipts Of not only the worlds series
each fall, but every pOst-seas0n series
that is played?
Furthermore. what becomes Of this
money!
John E Bruce. a Cincinnati lawyer,
the secretary and treasurer OF the Ma
tioual Commission and one OF the fig
ureheeds in the body, although he is
never mentioned IS acting in reality,
makes his annual statement Of the
collections and disbursements
Bruce's figures tell a great deal. but
not all. He tells what he does with
the money. but since the worlds Sc
ries has become such a big thing in
baseball and the profits are so large
there has been big balance, which
is merely credited to the National
Commission.
Why Ten Per Cent.
Now what does this 10 per cent
mean? That's easy TO figure First,
it must insure Mr. Johnson. Mr.. Lynch.
and Mr.. Hermann the best Of rail-
road service. the right 10 reside at
the choicest Of hostelries, and all the
wine that the commission chooses to
drink and buy. Who pays for this?
None other than the poor baseball bug
who goes into craze to see his team
win OF lose I'm the long end.
The Cubs and Athletics drew an at
tendance Of 124, 222 in the five games,
which, with the advanced prices
named by the National Commission.
amounted to S17G.9SO. Ten per cent of
this amount, which is S1T,S98. went To
the National Commission
The National Commission. Johnson,
Lynch, and Hermann, Of course also
looked after the series between the
New York Giants and Yankees and
Reds Rather, If simply arranged the
details and instructed to have its 10
per cent deducted from the receipts
The New York games amounted to
81, 1920, giving the National Commission
S.l46-25. The Reds-Naps' clashes were
far from satisfactory financially, still
SS5.926.2 was pOcketed by the National
Commission from the worlds series and
the New York games
Originally the 10 per cent was set
aside to the expenditures incurred dur
ing the worlds series. Il was TO in
clude the salaries and expenses Of the
four umpires. the salary and expenses
Of the official scorers, the salaries and
expenses OF the business representa-
tives. and the expenses for the emblem
presented TO the winners Of the series.
In the statement issued by Secretary
Treasurer John +. Bruce he lists the
sum of $1,000 awarded to the National
Commission as salaries and expenses.
There IS no further questioning on the
part OF ecretary-Treasurer Bruce Just
placing the Sl.0g0 TO the credit OF John
son, Lynch, and Hermann for their
labor and expenses.
Why the work Of the National Com
mission is more tedious than the play
ers- Just think, this trio has TO suffer
and fret until the annual season is
closed, or until the two pennant win
ners are known Then comes the meet
ing OF the three mCguls and the preSi-
dents Of the two pennant winning
ltdlliS- ne yates are arranged ana
decided upon, then comes the tossing
Of the coin to settle where the opening
games shall be played.
Work Is Celebration.
Just imagine how the National Com
mission has TO exert itself to decide
all these exciting SHUTS Why. the
mere toss of the silver alone is siren
uous work, isn't it? With the entire
preliminary arrangements completed
the commission has practically nothing
more TO do. only u travel along with
the clubs, enjoy the victories, and Cele-
brate to their hearts content.
Now just think the worlds series
forces such hardships on the National