The sun., 1919-01-16
NATIONAL CUTS
SALARY LIST
Radical Move Sets Monthly
Limit for Each Club
at $11, 900. g.
TROUBLE IS FEARED
Players Likely to Strike-New
York Fights the Re-
duction.
ny FREDERICK G. LIEB.

ny FREDERICK G. LIEB.
Eleven thousand dollars a month for
each club! That was the players salary
limit for next season adopted ty the
National League at its meeting in the
Waldorf-Astoria yesterday afternoon.
The sum named Is not to include the
managers salary. Tho leagues an
nouncement of this radical legislation
Immediately set baseball circles agog.
and II is expected to develop an upheaval
that is likely to include the biggest
Mayors strike in the history of the
game
Since the National League has decided
on a schedule calling for season of Ave
months and seven days II means Z at
the highest payroll in the league for the
entire season of 1919. as regards players
only, will be approximately $4,000.
As many major league payrolls in
recent years have run we'll over 800 900.
this Is more than a cut to the bone: 1t
is dig right into the marrow. The
ore consolation the ball player may de-
rive from 1t is that the original resolu-
ton presented by Charles II. Ebbets of
the Brooklyn club called for $4,000 a
month.
John A. Heydler. president Of the
National League, said 1.-The first resolu-
ton called for a lower figure than what
adopted. After 1t was boosted
several times six clubs voted in favor
Of an $1,000 limit. The two clubs who
voted against 1t were New York and
Chicago. Tho men representing these
clubs, however, expressed their willing
ness to abide by the decision of the
majority"
Provide Heavy Fine.
However, in the event that the Giants
ara Cubs attempt to evade tho salary
limit the National League voted that a
fine of $4,000 be inflicted on any club
caught violating the drastic law. The
president OF the league was given abso-
lute authority to enforce this salary
limit TO the utmost of his ability. He
was instructed to check up on all con-
tracts TO see that no club violates the
new law.
This Is the first time in major league
history that n club salary limit has been
adopted. Prior to 1896 the National
League had an individual player limit
by which no club could pay any player,
outside OF manager. more than $1,000.
Counting twenty-one players TO club
the new player limit would average
$4,000 man. about 5000 more than
thirty years ago. when the cost of living
was about one-third OF what It Is to-day.
The limit was not adopted before one
~ the most tempestuous arguments de-
ve,oped in the National League in years.
Charles Stoneham. the new Giant owner,
started his first league meeting with a
baptism OF FIRE. lie and Magistrate Nc
Quade. his partner, fought to their NJ.
most against such limit and wc"e
backed by Bill Neeck of Ch!cago bu'
they were showed under.
What VIII Rivals Do.
Just what action the American League
will take on this subject Is hard to say
Ban johnson, Frank Navin OF Detroit
Lleut-Col. Huston OF the Yankees and
Charles Comiskey of the White Son
when questioned were non-committal or
the subject or said II was National
League matter. However. II is not be
l!ered that the National League wouit
lave dared TO go it alone without some
understanding with the other major
We're the American League to continue
on their Old basis 1t would make the Ma
t'onal relatively a minor league.
on the question OF player limit th'
National League voted to recommend Il
ne Joint ma jor league session "a playeI
Limit reduced TO the lowest possible
Limit" The proposition of an eighteer
PLAYER limit. however. was voted down
and the league now stands evenly d!
vided between a limit Of twenty anC
lNcDIY-One players. Inc American
League adopted player limit Of twenty
one at its last meeting, and this vii
likely be made uniform IN both league
today. The National went on record a
flvoring uniform limit in both leagues
The National League also agreed WIFI
thH American by forcing the champion
chip club to turn so per cent. of Il
worlds series receipts into the leagu
treasury 4 motion TO first subtrac
4 hnA .G..A- n.
vas voted down. Hoydler said the orig
inal resolution asked that IS per cent
o. the championship clubs world
series receipts be turned over to tn
league treasury.
The National League also passed
resolution which will be presented I
the joint meeting OF the two leagues TO
Gay favorng a change in the method o
dividing the players receipts. Las
year fat sums had been offered TO bot
winning and losing teams and the sys
tom worked out badly. The Nations
League would return to the old per
Cerage system, but would leave IKE
percentages to be divided among play
ers of first division teams.
Affirm Training Rule.
The league voted that the Nations
league statute limiting a club 10 onl
thirty days OF training must be lived u
to reliRiouSly this year, ana uNed pen
city of $500 for any club violating III
rule. Heydler also said the league cor
siders sending players TO health spring
before March % a violation OF the spir
OF the rule.
The league reiterated its stand on III
National Commission. Most member
are in favor of a. one man commission
but II a one man commission Is not d.
sired by the American League, the Ma
t.onal League still is pledged in favor {
a commission chairman with no fnancii
interest or other affiliation with baseball
The National League again returned
tho nonwithdrawable waiver rule. who
tho nom wlthdrawable waiver rule. while
was in effect prior to last year. BY Il
operations of this rule, no club can r.
cali It's waiver on a player after he
claimed by another club. The nonwitl
c.awable waiver. however will not Q
INTO effect until the opening day OF u
season.
A accommodation also was made
The American League favoring mol
wthdrawable waiver system between Il
'wJ leagues. Tho National League all
viii recommend TO the American Leag'
lay that a Joint meeting OF the tv
..4slcs be held at least once each yea
ERASMUS IS FAVORITE.