The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-13
SPORTS-- COMMITTEE ACCEPTS
Leagues Must Vote On Draft At Meetings

New York, December 12.- The tentative draft of the pro- posed new baseball agreement which is to be the governing of the sport was accepted today by the major and minor leagues committees which have been working on the document the last two days.
 The agreement as accepted by the committees was accepted last night by Judge K. M. Landis, George Wharton Pepper of Philadelphia, John Conway Tools of New York and J. C. Jones of St. Louis.
 The committee submitted two ten- tative agreements, one between the National and American leagues and the other between the two major leagues and the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues. the minor league organization,
 Action on the agreement between the two major leagues will be taken at their annual meetings, that of the National league Tuesday In this city and the American league at Chicago Friday.
 The agreement between the major leagues and the minor league asso- citation will be acted upon in a refer endum and will be submitted to each of the 27 leagues in the association. The latter will hold meeting at Chi cago January 10 to take final action as an association. and January 12 there will be joint ratification meeting at Chicago to be participated in by the National and American leagues and the National association.
 The most important controversial point in >the proposed agreement be- tween the major leagues and the minors was that relating to the draft ing of players from one league by another of higher classification. The point was not definitely settled by the committee because of the known opposition to the American associa- tion and International league to res- toration of the draft.
 Some Glass A leagues also are op- posed to 1t. while all leagues below Class A favor it.
 The American association and the international league. it is said, will have no objection to a draft provision If the price for players so taken by the major league clubs is fixed at S7,500. It is understood that the major leagues are willing to make the price s5,000.
 DRAFT OPTIONAL
 In order to make progress toward the completion of the new national agreement, the joint committee &C., cepted provision that the draft be optional. The clause would permit the drafting of players by the major leagues only from those lower leagues that favor such operation, but any minor league that rejects the propo- sition would not be permitted to draft players from leagues of lower classi- fication. Thus if the Amercan asso- citation and the International league continue their opposition to the draft they will be prohibited iron drafting players from the leagues of lower classification that adopt the provision, and the two Class A circuits then would be aobstructed from obtaining new players by outright purchases or by developing players not connected with organized baseball.
 The Acceptance of the tentative draft of the new agreement by the joint committees today, howsver, does not mean its final adoption, as the respective committees will be obliged to make a report back to their or- ganizations for ratification
 LANDIS' NEW TITLE
 The agreement between the National and American leagues desigaates the title of Judge Landis as commissioner. In outlining his duties the agreement places upon him the task ot investi- gatins either upon complain, or upon his own initiative any act or practice. alleged or suspected to be detrimental to the best interests of the national game of baseball with authority to summon persons and to order the pro- duction of documents.a Provision is made for imposing penalties for re- fusal to comply with the commission CTS orders in such cases.
 Alter investigations, the commis- sloner shall determine what preyen- tive, remedial or punitive action shall be taken either against major leagues, major league clubs or individuals, as the case may be.
 In the event that a maior 1eseue or major league club be found guilty of conduct detrimental to the game, the commissioner may impose a fine not to exceed $5,000, and in the case or a club, punishment may be ex- tended to include temporary depriya- lion or representation in joint meet lngs held under the agreement. Tn the case of an official or an emnIove or major league or of a major league club, the punishment may extend to suspension or removal and a player may be declared by the commissioner temporarily or permanently ineligible to play with any club which is a marty to the agreement.
 In cases where organizations or indi- vduals not parties to the agreement are found guilty of conduct detrimental to the game, the commission is authorized to pursue appropriate legal remedies.
 The term of the commissioner is fixed at seven years and he shall be eligible to succeed himself His salary is fixed at $5O.000 year.
 Judge Iandis is officially named as first commissioner in the agreement and. it is provided that, upon the expiration of his term, or in the event that the office shall become vacant for any req son. his successor shall be named by a vote of the Majority of the clubs com posing the ilwp naiur leagues Failing to For a Real Man ' @sE