Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-22
RESOLUTION IS AIMED
AT BALL CONTRACTS
House Member Inaugurates
Movement for General Inves-
tigation of National Game.

CharacteriZing organized base ball as
1.-The most audac ous and autocratc trust
in the. country" Representative Gala
CHER of Illinois today introduced reso-
luton which would provide for an eX-
haustive inquiry by a special committee
of Congress into the operations of the
commission which controls the game, and
would also direct the Attorney General to
investigate the base ball contract system
with a view to instituting prosecutions
for violation of the Sherman antitrust
law.
Points to Determine.
The resolution would direct the Speaker
to appoint a special committee of seven
members empowered to investigate the
operation and practices of the base ball
trust to ascertain whether:
Unjust determinations have been prac-
ticed i'm favor of or against players.
whether players are now or have been
prejudiced. coerced, restrained from
the exercise of their just rights to enter
into contracts of a fair and equitable ma
ture; whether such combination has
been effected among base ball Dagnates
throughout the country as would preclude
competition and operate in restraint of
trade
This is sought, the resolution sets
forth. because the most audacous and
autocratic trust i'll the country is the
one which presumeS to control the game
Of base ball, its o.lcials announcing daily
through the press of the country the
dictates of a governing commission; how
competition is stifed: how territory and
games are apportiOned; how the prices are
fixed which millions must pay to witness
the sport; how men are enslaved and
forced to accept salaries and terms or for
ever be barred from playing, and of other
acts incident to trafficking in a national
pastime for pecuniary gain.
Believes Committee Will Approve.
Representative Gallagher said today
that he believed the House rules COM
mittee would consider his resolution
favorably and that this effort will lead
to complete investigation of the game
of base ball as controlled by the ma
tonal commission.
Il have included in the resolution, y
said Mr.. Gallagher "a direction to the
Attorney General to inquire into the mat
ter. This will enable us to get the con-
tracts of base bali players direct before
the Department of Justice, with view
to have corrected the abuses of the
system.
Mr. Gallagher expressed a willingness
to cooperate with any other member of
Congress interested in any specific case
and plans to confer with Senator Hoke
Smith of Georgia, who, upon request
was forwarded a copy of "Ty" Cobb 8
contract with the Detroit club Senator
Smith may recommend some legislative
action after he has examined the terms
of this contract.
Fogel Calls It Trust
Representative Gallagher has been in
correspondence regarding his resolution
against the base ball organization with
Horace Fogel, former owner of the Phil
adclphia National League team. In a
letter to Mr.. Gallagher Mr.. Fogel said:
Il think you have struck the popular
chord in the movement against the base
ball trust, the public at large are sour
on the methods of this monopoly, and you
will have the people with you in demand
ing the investigation
In another letter to Representative Gal
lagher Fogel said he could put him on
the track to 'lay the foundation for the
investigation and to subpoena witnesses
necessary to easily make out clear
case to turn over to the Department of
Justice for immediate action to bust up
this arrogant base hall trust -