Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-03
MAY. RELIEVE FANS
OF WAR TAX ITEM
Base Ball Magnates to Con-
slider Assuming 10 Per Cent
Levy on Admissions.
BY DENMAN. THOMPSON.

There Is possibility that base ball
rams will not have to dig down into
their jeans for the extra pennies re-
CURED by the government with every
tieket sold for games next season. 1t
may be that, the. club owners voluntari.
" WIN assume this burden. Whether the
bie league rnoguls will decide to relieve
the base ball public, Of the 10 per cent
war tax on admissions fees will de-
pend upon the conclusions they reach
as to how much Of an effect such a levy
VIII nave on the attendance at ball parks
by observing the result in somewhat sim
liar. lines, of business.
Careful study Of the effect the, tax is
and other theaters, race tracks, box
Ing clubs. etc, is being made by the
magnates ard some are said to be OF
the opinion that the tax wifi serve to
keep down the size. Of the crowds go
ing to the games. It also is feared that
the necessity for making change will
cause vexatious delays on days when big
gatherings make a rush for the entrances
and gum up the. box Offices and, turnstiles.
Some OF the leaders of the sport are
said to- adhere to the belief that IL ade-
quate steps for ~retrenehment are, taken
by the club owners in the way of cutting
down salaries and other expenses that
they can foot the item of war tax them
selves instead. Of having the public pay
IT. This question is expected to occupy
prominent place on the order of bust
ness to be considered when the club
presidents Of the American and, National
Leagues get together this month for
their respective yearly, confabs.
President iTener of the National
League Is nothing If not a persistent
chap. Convinced that players par
tireiy too much for t their sfroTts.. he
proposed a year ago. that more
equitable division be, devised of the
purse made up by the fall classic Of the
diamond, one that would net the win
ners ABOUT 1890 apiece the losers
$500. His .circuit;sindorsed the plan,
but the American League. teams repre-
senting which have been winning a
largo majority ofSworld titles in re-
cent years, turned it down. Tener now
plans again to submit his plan and is
ing accorded 1t. j.. 80
BY his scheme. in addition to fixed
sums being given the players on the
contendtng. teams. a certain percentage
each, Of the six teams finishing below
the vfctors.s the amounts being deter
mined bySa graded. system, it being fig
ured this would stimulate competition
on these clubs would get several hun
dred dollars apiece.
Following close upon the announce
ment that syndicate of Indianapolis
men has taken an option on the club
repreenting the Hoosier metropolis in
the American Association comes word
that Jack Hendricks. manager of that
club. may yet become field; pilot of the
St. Louis Cardinals. Dispatches from
st. Louis today are to the effect that
President Hickey of that, club again
has Hendricks under consideration for
manager of his National League club.
-Rickey's announcement is puzzling in
view Of ibis admission that he does
not know how far negotiations have
progressed for Hendricks to. become
head OF, the Indianapolis club.