New Britain herald., 1919-01-16

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means that the highest payroil
league for the entire season or 1919,
@s regards players only, will be ap-
proximately $4,000.
AS many major league payrolls in
recent years have run we'll over $780,
O00 this is more than a cut to the
bone; 1t is a dig right into the mar
row The one consolation the ball
player may derive from it is that the
original resolution presented by
Charles H. Ebbets of the Brooklyn
club called for $4,000 month.
John A Heydler, president of the
National League, said THE first re-
solution called for a. lower figure than
what was adopted. After 1t was boost
ed several times six clubs voted in
favor of an $1,000 limit. The two
clubs who voted against it were New
York and Chicago. The men repre-
senting these clubs, however. express
ed their willingness to abide by the
decisions of the majority.
4 Provide Heavy Fine.
However in the event that the
Giants and Cubs attempt to evade the
salary limit the National league voted
that fine of $4,000 be inflicted on
any club caught violating the drastic
law. The president of the league was
given absolute authority to enforce
this salary limit to the utmost of his
ability. He was instructed to check
up on all contracts to see that no club
violates the new law.
This is the first time in major
league history that a club salary limit
National league had an individual
player limit by which no club could
pay any player, outside of mana ger.
more than $4,000. Counting II play
ers to a club the new player limit
would average $4,000 a man, about
$500 more than 80 years ago, when
the cost of living was about one-third
of what it is today.
The limit was not adopted before
one of the most tempestuous argu-
ments developed in the National
league in years. Charles Stoneham,
the new Giant owner, started his first
league meeting with a baptism of fire.
He and Magistrate McQuade. his part
ner, fought to their utmost against
such d limit and were backed by Bill
Noeck of Chicago but they We're
showed under.
What Will Rivals Do?
Just what action the American
hard to say. Ban Johnson. Frank
NaVin of Detroit, Lieut-Col Huston
of the Yankees and Charles Comiskey
Of the White Sox when questioned
were non-cOmmittal on the subject or
said it was n National league ma tier
However,, it is not believed that the
National league would have dared to
go it alone without some understand
Ing with the other major. Were the
Am ericaa league to continue on their
old basis it would make the National
relatively q minor league.
On the question of a player limit
the National league voted to recon-
mend to the joint major league SEES
zion "a player limit reduced to the
lowest possible limit" The PROPOSE
ton of an Is player limit, however,
was voted down, and the league now
stands evenly divided between Il limit
of 20 and 81 players. The American
league adopted a PLAYER limit of FL
at its last meeting. and this will like
ly be made uniform in both leagues.
The National went on record as ia
voring a uniform limit in both
leagues.
The National league also agreed
with the American by forcing the
championship club to turn so per
cent. or the world 8 series receipts
into the league treasury. A motion
to first substract $4,000 from these
receipts for expenses was voted down
Heydler said the original resolution
asked that rs per cent. of the cham
ptonship clubs worlds series receipts
be turned over to the league treasury.
The National league also passed a
resolution which will be presented to
the joint meeting of the two leagues
favoring a change in the method of
dividing the players receipts. Last
year fiat sums had been offered to
both winning and losing teams and
The system worked out badly. The
National league would return to the
Dld percentage system, but would
leave fixed percentages to be divided
among players of first division teams,
Affirm Training Rule.
The league voted that the National
League statute limiting a club to only
thirty days of training must be lived
up to reIigiously this year, and fixed
a penalty of $500 for any club vio-
lating the rule. Heydler also said
the league considers sending players
to health springs before March %
violation of the spirit of the rule.
The lea que reiterated its stand on
the National Commission. Most men,
bers are in favor of q one man COM
mission, but If one man commits
sion is not desired by the American
League, the National League still is
ID 1Iccif an