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Show BIG LEAGUES TALK OF CUTTING SEASON Johnson's Plan of 140-game Schedule Likely to Receive Serious Consideration. By JACK VEIOCK. By International News Sendee. NEW YORK, Dec. IS. Ban Johnson, the czar of the American league, has for several years been in favor of a 140-game schedule for the two big leagues, but on account of a united stand on the part of the National league magnates against changing from the 150-game plan, thereby cutting two weeks from tho season, Johnson's John-son's scheme has not been tried out. But opinion among National league club-owners club-owners Is changing. At the meeting here last week one clubowner admitted that sentiment in the old league toward gen-eial gen-eial retrenchment is strong and for this reason the 140-game scheme may be given support when the schedule committees gel together. Inclement weather In the early weeks of t lie season has made business poor at the box offices of the two big leagues for the past five or six years, hut salaries go on just the same, and so do traveling expenses. With the clubowners ' of both leagues planning to make salary reductions, the idea of reducing the sched- ' Li le to HO games is expected to gain pres- tige. Such a move would he an argument in favor of smaller salaries and by opening the season a week or ten days later than usual the magnates believe they would ! avoid many postponed games and, consequently, conse-quently, only play a few double-headers. Brooklyn fans campaigning for Sunday baseball hope to put a bill through tho legislature which will legalize the Sabbath Sab-bath game in the state. " If the Dodgeis. Giants and Yankees could play Sunday ball it is said that nearly two weeks could be taken out of ttie schedule in both leagues. Whether or not the plan will go through this year remains to be seen, but if it dues not succeed in 1917, it is practically certain cer-tain to get a trial in 1918, say baseball men. |