Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-07-12
PLANTATION LEAGUE IS STILL
SCRAPP|NGOVER 'CORKED BATS
EVA Management Has Passed the Buck to National Baseball
Commission With Request That 1t Settle the Dispute in
Far Away Hawaii - Lots of Legal Red Tape.

AT the hearing before the Board OF
Arbitration. several bats were pro-
duced. and admitted to be the prop
erty OF the Waianae Baseball Team
and part of their property ON the field
on said June 9th. 1912, where the
game above referred 10. Was being
played. A careful examination Of the
bats was made by this Board. and up
on one of the bats being split open
il was found not to be made entire
~ of hardwood. but that II had been
bored out. and the opening stuffed
With pieces of cork and wood.
This evidence to the Board was
conclusive that the bat had been
tempered with.
Rules Not Specific.
In carefully studying the Constitu-
tion and Bylaws OF the Oahu Plan
tation Baseball League and the rules
and regulations set forth in the
Spaldings Official Guide for the sea.
son of 1912. this Board of Arbltra-
tion is unable TO find any rule or an.
thority, for them to either declare
tho game forfeited. or order the same
10 be PLAYED over. And indeed II must
be stated that under the Constitution
and rules and regulations above re
ferred 20. this Board Is without power
TO give anv decision which carries
with II the imposition OF penalty
Under the Spalding's Oficial Guide
Rule. 26. is set forth the grounds up
TN which a came NAV Nc forfeited
The matter is left entirely 10 the
ampire. Section 8. of Rule 26. pro.
vides that II after warning by the
umpire. anyone of the rules Of the
game be wilfnliy and persistently VIC
lated. a forfeited game shall be de-
clared blythe umpire in favor Of the
club not in fault That being mat
ter entirely within the powers and
duties of the umpire, 1t follows that
this Board Is without authority to
declare the game forfeited
Nowhere within. the Constitution
and Bylaws or In the Official Rules,
is there any provision or any author
ity vested in the Board Of Arhitra-
ton or any other body or official to
declare or order that the game shall
be played over.
Owing to the limited scope OF the
Constitution and Bylaws OF the
LPlaata tlon>.K ssagaar and. athe oRoial.
baseball Rules, the hands, Of this
Board are practically tied, Ind they
regret that their decision in this case
must be limited
The Board of Arbitration. however.
suggests that for the best interests OF
the Sport of Baseball that here
after the Constitution and BYLAWS be
revised with the idea Of including
within their scope the required au-
thority to give a decision In any
given case, and to impose a penalty
under said decision. Further, this
Board feels that umpIres who preside
over the games and the Captains Of
the respective teams. should make
themselves familiar with all the rules
applicable to a baseball game, and see
to the enforcement Of the same.
Respectfully submitted.
Signed by A. r. CUNHA,
w. ]. HAMPTON,
w. T. RAWLINS.
Dated Honolulu, June oath, 1912.
Umpire Testifies.
VIM. T. Lee Kwai made affidavit
that he had personally examined the
bats in question. and found that they
had been tempered with.