The sun., 1919-02-27
INTERNATIONAL TO
OPEN ON APRIL 80
Schedule Incomplete Owing to
Controversy Over Ham,
iltOn and Newark.
ny FREDERICK @. LIEB.


Finding home for the Maynard
Hamilton, Ont. franchise still remains
the pressing problem OF the Interna-
tional League. The schedule meeting OF
the league was held yesterday at the
Hotel Imperial. and after a session last
Ing all day Lieut. Dave Fultz. president
OF the Internationals. said that Mon
treal, Ottawa, Ont, Scranton. Pa. and
Syracuse. N. Y, had put in applications
for the baseball waif. but the league was
unable to decide which city would prove
the best guardian.
delegation from Montreal will ap-
pear before the league at Its session to-
day and make a personal plea to have
an International League club returned
to Montreal. Montreal was represented
In the International League and It's pre-
decessor. the Eastern League, continu-
ously from 1897 TO 1917. Fultz said that
Samuel Lichtenhein, who formerly
owned the club In Montreal. was not a
member of the new concern which Is
seeking the Hamilton franchise.
Syracuse started of with franchise
last season but business became 40 bad
that II became necessary TO shift the
ers argue, however. that In view OF the
war and the bad conditions that pre-
vailed generally in baseball this should
not be held against the city.
Three BIDS for Newark.
Tho International League also was
unable to settle the Newark muddle.
F>ultz said that three different offers
have been made by responsible inter-
ests that are willing to back a new club
In Newark. All Of them, he said, have
expressed willingness to erect a new
park nearer the centre Of Newark than
the present Wiedemayer's Park. pro-
vided real estate may be procured at a
reasonable figure.
F'ultI would not disclose the names
Of the Newark bidders, but said the
proposition advanced by David Driscoll.
the former president OF the Jersey City
club, and Howard Mcconnell OF Mont
clair. N. J.. received serious considera-
ton. Fults denied that Driscoll and
Mcconnell were unwilling to pay any
thing for the franchise, and said all
three bidders had named n price for
which they would take over the club
Mono Of the bids approach the value
OF $4,000 which Joseph Lannin, who
controls the franchise. has placed on II.
The league will make an effort to dis
problems at It's session to-day. II II
Ia unable to do so Fults has been granted
full power to settle both matters to the
best of his ability as soon as pos
sible.
Season Opens April 80.
Tho International adopted a schedule
of 40 games. opening April so and
closing September IA. Owing to the
uncertainty in regard TO the eighth
franchise the league could approve the
schedule only in part
Fultz sid new spirit OF optimism
club owners looked forward to the 1919
season with n far greater feeling OF
confidence than at the other meetings
over which he had presided.
The league adopted legislation in pur-
suance with this new optimistic spirit,
and raised the player and salary limits
and returned to the double umpire eys-
tenn.
The player limit was raised from If
teen, as adopted In December, to sixteen
players exclusive OF a player manager.
Last season the limit was fourteen. in
Guiding manager. so the new limit
practically Is an increase OF three men
over 1918.
Fultz said that the salary limit had
been Increased from the small war time
limit OF $4,000 a month which was in
force last season. He would not state
the amount II was increased TO. but II
Is unde rstood that II was made the same
as the $500 a month salary limit re-
Gently approved by the American As
ISOLATION.
The league approved an umpire stan
Of eight men for next season. Last
year in the interest OF war economy
the stan had been reduced TO five men.
The Spalding ball was adopted as the
official ball OF the league.
The league will hold another session
day. when It is hoped TO complete all
business now before the league. Fultz
said all clubs had sent out contracts for
1919, including the Newark and Hamil-
ton clubs.