The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-01-16
Clubs Must Make Big Cuts, the Giants From StOO,O00 to S60,000 to Meet New Restric- tiOns>

Economy crowded its way into a private room at the Waldorf-Astoril yesterday, where the owners of the National League were holding q spe- caal meeting and spread it's influence 80 strongly that representatives of six of the eight clubs were fairly over come and quickly adopted the follow Ing drastic resolution:
 Resolved, That @ maximum salary limit of $11,o00 per month, not includ- ing the manager, be established for each club and that the penalty for a violation shall be 5000, with power for the president to enforce it.
 Even baseball writers. hardened by long experience to any surprises in baseball. drew a deep breath when this stringent and radical plan to cut down expenses was announced by John A Heydler, president of the league.
 It was explained that this restric- tion invoive5 only the playing season of about five and one half months and that the clubs would not be held strictly to s11 900 per month, but that
 
 that amount.
 The player limit now at 22 in the National League does not go into ef- feet until May 15. 50 that in the first three weeks of the season the clubs carry excess players. For that req son the salaries the first month are likely to be heavier than after the player limit goes into effect, for which reason little latitude was given, but the average must be maintained
 To thoroughly understand what this means some analysl5 and com parisonS are necessary.
 Under this maximum limit of S11,- 900 per month for players club cannot expend more than $60, ,0GO per season. The salaries paid out by the New York Giants in recent years have rarely 8een less than $10O, 900, so that cut of $40.000 must be made in the amount paid to players alone.
 | When the Boston Red Sox won the Worlds Championship three or four years ago, J. J. Lannin's salary IiSt for the season was s125000.
 On the basis of 22 players the av- craze salary of a player would be $500 month or $2,750 for the sea son, In order to pay some of the stars $5,000, $6,000, and even s8,000 a season the average salary for the rank and file would be appreciably less than $50G a month
 Giants and CuBs Opposed.
 This drastic resolution, which by the way will stand independent ot . any action the American League may take, was not adopted without a fight largely on the part of the New York and Chicago clubs.
 As matter of fact much lower Ihaxinihm limit was at first suggested but this was gradually raised to $11,. 0o0 month in the face of opposition Even then the New York and Chi. cago clubs voted in the negative, bu six clubs voted in favor and so i Aecame baseball law so far as tht National League is concerned
 When the announcement was mad MT. Heydler became the target for battery of questions. How can sucl a rule be enforced? Can it not b. evaded by giving bonuses? Wha would prevent a. club giving nor money to the manager who coul dispense it privately? What club of fered the resolution? will it not b restrictive in competition for play CTS? Will not such d move cheaper baseball?
 To most of these and others MI Heydler would not commit himself He was perfectly frank. however, an finally said in summing up:
 I've are not concerned at presen as to how to beat the rule. Most O the owners felt that limit of som kind was absolutely necessary an they passed the resolution in goo faith, It must be carried out i good faith else it will be worth Httl or nothing. Needless to say it wi take some time to properly try ou - the experiment and find how best t enforce the rule. Most of tn owners, however, felt that 1t wa essential and that it will turn GU to be practical"
 A Hot Pace.
 This was not all. The owner were stripped for action and John 4 Heydler, as presiding officer, carrie them along at a hot pace.
 To begin with the New York ciu ez1zz=.==..z.s.--a---ssz,.