Evening star., 1916-12-03
PLAYERS WILL GET
PAY WHILE INJURED
Base Ball Contracts Complete
s. Revised by Commission
at Chicago Meeting.
RESTORE RELEASE CLAUSE


X
With the aid OF two attorneys
we'll ve-sed in base ball. the ma
tional commission, in special ses-
sion here today. put the finishing
touches on complete revision of
the major league players con-
tract. which has been under con-
sideration since the close of the
late war with the Federal League.
Restoration of the ten-day re-
lease clause, which was omitted
from the iron-clad war contracts,
rewording of the reserve clause
and the framing OF personal IN
iury clause that can be under
stood by any player were the tea
lures OF the new contract as eN-
posed by Chairman Hermann OF
the commission at the end OF Its
all-day session in the offices OF
President Johnson OF the Ameri-
can League.
Salary to Injured Player.
BY the new contract it is provided
that a club owner shall pay the salary
in full of player who may be disabled
in the service of the club until the
termination of the contractual period
This applies. of course, to players SO
severely injured that they do not re-
cover their athletic ability before the
expiration of their contracts. player
who is injured in May and returns to ac-
tive duty in any succeeding month of
the playing season Is then subject to
ten days notice of release. just like his
fellow players.
ternity recently made objection to
major legue contracts on the ground
that efforts had been made to retain
claim to athletes who were disabled
mann stated positively that no such
contract ever had been approved by the
national commission. The revised
document is more favorable to the
player in that respect than any pre-
vious form of contract in use. In that
respect it may be considered a grant to
the players union, although that was
denied by the commissioners, who
pointed to the fact the business oil
drafting a new players contract was
commenced months ago. long before the
threats Of a strike began to be heard
All existing wartime contracts. from
which the ten-day release clause was
omitted will be lived up to, Of course,
but the players who sign new contracts
for 1917 will be subject to the same
provisions in general as existed before
the war New wording has been given
practically every clause in the old con-
tracts, under legal advice, and the re-
serve clause, otherwise known the
option on players services. has been
given particular attention. with view
TO making it more simple and at the
same time more equitable to player and
club owner alike.
Legal Advice on Contracts.
In the final drafting of the new con-
tract Messrs. Hermann, johnson and
Tener were assisted today by Attor-
neys Kincaid and Eldridge Prior to
the special session the advice of other
legal minds had been obtained by
President johnson of the American
League. and the new document repre-
sents the composite results of several
months of labor by all parties con-
cerned.
Morning and afternoon sessions were
held by the commissioners today and
the fruit of their efforts will be sub
m.tted to the major leagues for their
approval at their respective annual
meetings next week.
The new contract has no effect on
the minor leagues. over whose internal
affairs the commission has no power,
consequently will not remove the cause
of the friction which has arisen be-
tween the players union and the small
er leagues over the provisions of the
contracts in use In the smaller leagues.
During the intermission for luncn
President Tener and Chairman Herr
man paid a visit to President Weegh-
man of the Cubs TO confer over matters
likely to come up at The National
League meeting IN New York DeceIn-
ber II. The Cub president did not dis
cuss the managerial problem with his
colleagues. 1t was declared. President
Tener left last night for Pittsburgh
TO visit President Dreyfuss OF the Pi-
ra tes before returning to New York.
Before adjourning the national com
mission denied that there had been
Incorporated in the Eew contract any
provision for compulsory arbitration"
ir case President Fultz should press
his war or the major leagues in an
effort 70 compel concessions from the
minors.