Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-22
TO TAX BALL CLUBS
FrawIey's Bill Will Give State
Part of Gross Receipts.
MONEY FOR FAIRGROUNDS
Act Aimed at the Three Organiza-
tions in Greater New
York.

-N1" IORA. JdIlQ6Ey S<.-Iulo there
is sudden change in plans State Senator
James ]. Frawley. who framed the pres
ent boxing law in this state, will intro
duce a bill at Albany. it is said, that will
cause much excitement in the ranks of
professional base ball men. 1t is Senator
Frawley's idea to tax the gross receipts
OF base ball clubs exceeding a certain
limit. the money thus collected to be
turned over to the Fairgrounds in the
leading cities and towns.
On excellent authority it was learned
yesterday that Senator Frawley's pro-
posed bill would name 10 per cent as the
tax, and that the measure II passed would
be aimed directly at the New YORK Ma
tional League club, operating the Polo
Grounds; the New York American League
club. at Broadway and 16sth street, and
the Brooklyn National League club, at
Washington Park.
1t is said to be Senator Frawley's idea
to put professional base ball under the
control of the state athletic commission.
which is managing the boxing game. and
to empower the commission to look over
the books Of the ball clubs in addition to
collecting the state tax. The smaller
clubs, including those operating in the
International and New York State leagues,
:" III uOt Dc ScTIOuSly dnSClcO, IL Is re-
ported. inasmuch as their gross receipts
will not exceed the proposed taxable limit.
The owners Of New York's three major
league clubs have never made public the
lures and profits. The New York Ma
uonals and BrOOkiyns are incorporated
under the New Jersey laws, and their
annual meetings are held in Jersey City.
The New York Americans, incorporated at
Albany in the name Of the Greater New
York Base Ball Club, have yet to declare
dividend because of the enormous eX-
penditures in building the park on the
hilltop.
Various estimates have been made as
to the profits OF the three clubs. but no
official figures have been made public.
IT was said that the profits Of the Polo
Grounds club In 1909 reached $3OOUO0.
but this could not be confirmed. The
business Of the club last year was said
to be a record-breaker. but the building
of the new stadium probably consumed
the profits. as the huge structure cost at
least $4,000 The expenses of the
$4,000 for a single season, so that il Is
conservatively estimated that the gross
receipts for one campaign may reach the
four-hund Observation-Disclosures mark.
With these figures a basis II is be-
lieved that II the Frawley base ball tax
bill should become a law the New York
National League club might have to pay
$4,000 into the state treasury.
nc 6AOSS iCScAPtS OI tie wow
York Americans and the Brooklyns have
been said to be much less than those OF
the Giants, although both Of those clubs
have made money In recent years. The
New York Americans will build a new
stadium at Kingsbridge this year at an
outlay OF 100000 or more, while the
Brooklyn club has planned a mammoth
plant In Flatbush at even a greater cost.
From what could be learned yesterday
the base ball men are getting ready to OPP
pose Senator Frawley's measure with all
the resources at their command. They
are prepared to show that 10 per cent
tax would prove a hardship in view OF
the uncertainty Of base hall, for a losing
team naturally would mean a great fall
ing off in public patronage. although the
expenses would not be lessened In any
way.
Meanwhile persons interested In horse
racing are in favor Of the Frawley meas
ure for the reason that they refuse to
believe that the base ball interests did not
oppose the attempt to pass the Gittins
bills at Albany last year. The racing
men have insisted all along that the
base ball men helped to defeat their meas
ures, and in spite Of emphatic denials
they still hold that opinion. For that
reason they are anxious to square &C
counts and are telling their friends that
the Frawley base ball bill will become a
law.
Advocates of amateur sport in the
schools also are ready to support the
measure which means new Fairgrounds
and possibly gymnasiums for the young
athletes.