Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-08-30
Minneapolis Shift Stalls;
15,414 See Yanks Banked
Estimates Bourd
Delays Vote on
VituI Bond Issue
BY BURTON HAWKINS
star stan Writer

BY BURTON HAWKINS
star stan Writer
The Steamroller which was to
transport the Senators to Min
neapolis has sputtered and
stalled, at least temporarily.
Throwing sand into the en-
CINE is Minneapolis Board Of
Estimates and Taxation. That
group, expected to be a rubber
stamp for the City Councils
11-2 favorable vote in a SO
million bond issue to enlarge
the stadium in the Minnesota
city, has deferred action until
Tuesday.
Thus the "step i by step"
plan, which apparently had
been worked out between
Washington officials and Min
neapolis negotiators, has Stun
bled. For the first time, word
now is emerging from Mime
apolis about dismay over devel-
opments. The previous glowing
optimism there that the Sem
ators would certainly be deliv-
cred now has been replaced by
doubt.
The movement could regain
lost momentum Tuesday, Of
course, but the delay admittedly
was a blow to Minneapolis men
who have been comforting with
Cal Griffith Of the Senators for I
more than a year. /.
Pleaded for Action
Chef Rowan, a member of
the Metropolitan Area Sports
Commission, pleaded with the
board to vote yesterday. He.
said an invitation from a ma
jor league team could easily
come over the week end and
added. 1T would be terribly
embarrassing to us if the city
can't say it's ready"
But three of the seven-mem-
Der board refused to be rushed
and said they wanted more
time to consider the bond plan.
Five votes are needed for pas
sage.
Earlier Gerald Moore, the
city'S top negotiator, was I'M
perturbed by the refusal of the
Senator's board of directors to
move Immediately for Ameri-
can League permission to shift
the franchise. Its Just
another step in the negotia-
tons" Moore said. II talked
to Mr.. Griffith Thursday and
I knew what they were doing"
st. Paul in Picture
The Twin Cities are having a
tug-of-War about which me-
tropolis will land major
league franchise first and
there's likelihood of the rope
, breaking. st. Paul has en-
tered the picture, with its coun-
Gil approving a resolution pledg-
ing So million to "a million
bond issue for expansion of
! Midway Stadium.
The baseball promotion feud
between the cities had been
dormant for some time. with
: st. Paul officials apparently
receding into the background.
| They dropped their bombshelI
yesterday, mentioning Cleveland
and another American League
club" as possible Shifters to
st. Paul.
st. Paul representatives re-
portedly will meet soon with
I. A. O'Shaughnessy, st. Paul
businessman who owns stock
IN the Indians, but William r.
Daley, chairman of the board
of the Cleveland club, said the
Indians have not been ap-
T preached by that city. He said
3 he was sure O'Shaughnessy
9 would not attend such a meet
D ing as a stakeholder but merely
. as friend of st. Paul baseball
3 people.
Q Move Came AS Surprise
Rival plans advanced yester-
day both call for signed con-
tracts with major league team
Q before bonds will be sold. Terms
0 OF the Minneapolis plan long
9 have been known to Griffith.
Q st. Paul's offer, sent to Will
0 Harridge. president of the
. American League, came as a
: complete surprise.
y, Minneapolis planners were
inclined to dismiss st. Paul's
q move as a harasSment meas
, IRE more than serious COM
{; petition. but st. Paul folks con-
to tended they have as good a
r. chance to land a club as Min
neapolis.
One st. Paul planner said.
50 Our chance might be better.
) We know we can give a big
: league team a lot better deal
- on rental. Our stadium was
paid for by a So million public
= bond issue. Minneapolis has to
find ways to make payments.
Neutral baseball fans in the
- area took the position that
continued squabbling might
jeopardize the chance Of either
- city getting a major league
club. the Associated Press re-
g ported. Both cities now have
z teams in the American Associ-
. alton. which is prepared to ask
- for 100000 for invasion of
: that territory.
"a st. Paul spokesman said
u their stadium could be en-
= larged to seat 1880 for next
~ season and could accommodate
Y $4,000 by 1860. The Minnea-
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