The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-18
NATIONALS REPEAL
SALARY LIMIT LAW
Raise Scale Upon Failure to
Obtain Cooperation of
American League
ny FREDERICK @. LIEB.

We
The National League yesterday did its
best to atone for It's III advised, picayune
policy OF last Wednesday, when It made
itself tho Joke OF the sporting world BY
adopting a player salary OF $1,000 a
month. As exclusively predicted In
THE SUN yesterday morning the Ma
tlonal League. In an executive session at
league headquarters on West Fortleth
street, yesterday revoked the limit and
practically went back to the old order.
Left high and dry by the American
Leagues refusal to adopt q salary limit
similar to that enacted at the National
League session the National League
simply was forced to repeal its new
measure or sacrifice It's right to major
league rating.
The National League. however. did not
do away with the salary limit entirely
The parent major league. criticised Sc
verely for its action. realized 1t was In a
tight situation and found an "out
through the most accessible exit. All
the National Leaguers declined to talk
They referred all inquiries to John
Heydler.
Heydler's Statement.
In a short statement the National
League executive said that the 3ll, 900
q month salary limit had been revoked
and new salary limit approved which
was satisfactory to all eight clubs. When
asked whether the 5000 fne for a vio-
lauon Of the limit was still in force
Haydler declined to reply.
In other words the new salary limit
Is largely camounage. As one well
versed baseball man put IT, III the Ma
tional League adopted salary limit
agreeable to all eight clubs It must
have been agreeable to the Giants. And
the only salary limit which Is agreeable
TO the Stoneham syndicate Is the sky.
The National League salary limit. II
there is any such thing. is high enough
to suit the Giants and Cubs. which
means that salaries in the National
League may run as high as In any
American League club
Means "Home Rule"
This does not mean. however. tina,
there Will be no cutting. Salaries Will
run lower in both leagues, and an effor,
will be made to get back TO the scale
that was In vogue prior to the advent OF
the Federal League. TAis applies TO the
American League as well as to the Ma
uonal. only the junior League had the
good sense not to proclaim It's intention
TO the world.
Merely Lifting the salary limit does
not mean that the Ideas OF men who
advocated a $1,000 month limit have
materially changed. 1t means that New
\ DIRK and Chicago VIII not be arbitrarily
held down. but that club Will hay,
home rule" and may pay what It feels
a. can afford.
There are some club owners who fee
they cannot afford to pay beyond the
$1,000 per month limit The players
therefore need not be too quick TO con-
graduate themselves because OF the
revocation OF the 3ll, 900 a month salary
limit. From those close to the situa tior
It Is whispered that there still will be
loud wall OF woe when the player:
receive their contracts
Peace at American League.
The American Leagues schedule
meeting. held at the BIItmore yesterday
was a rather peaceful session. In fac
most OF the members were gayly laugh
ing UP their sleeves. II Is no secre
to say that little sympathy was helC
outS Tor the plight the National Leagu,
was in.
The National League club owner
, brought It upon themselves" said on,
American Lacquer. The American
League could not string along on an!
| such proposition. and II was up to Ma
tional Leaguers themselves to find al
| out"
Ban johnson had complete sway a
| the American League meeting. Harr.
Fpazee. the Boston Red Sox president
who has been lighting johnson al
winter. threw up the sponge when h
found the Giants and the White So,
| tossed him over at last Thursdays Join
meeting.
Lieut. Col Huston of the Yankees
who. according TO Paris correspondents
would turn baseball upside down whei
the Colonel returned to America
limited his action to a resolution L
supply the returning troops with base
ball literature.
| William Harridge. Johnson's secre
tary, said the only thing OF interest a
the meeting was the adoption OF tn
| lao game schedule.
Seek Early Discharge of Soldier
/ Ban Johnson will remain over for
( National Commission meeting to-day
| Next Monday johnson will call on Ger
! Peyton March In Washington an
| present a list OF players now oversee
| in the American expeditionary fore
who will be discharged by the openin
! of the 1919 season. AT yesterday
league meeting the American Leagu
club owners presented the names @
players overseas whom they consider es
sential to their clubs.
The army is glad TO do this for US,
said johnson yesterday. Many larg
concerns are making similar requests G
the Government. and they are glad to lie
men go who have good JOBS awaitin
them. II helps to solve the problem q