Decision Made at Semi-Annual Meeting, Following Difficulties Experienced Last Season—Suspensions and Fines Meted Out by President Calder Are Upheld by Club Owners.

(Canadian Press Dispatch)

Montreal, May 15—A referee-ln-chief is to be appointed by the National Hockey league to supervise the work of the arbiters in league games; to see that a uniform interpretation is placed on the playing rules, and generally to have a roving commission over the circuit seeing that games are properly conducted. Thus, he will assume some of the duties which have hitherto fallen to President Calder. No names have been mentioned in connection with the new post, which will be a full-time position. The decision was reached at the semi-annual meeting of the National Hockey league held on Saturday when the club owners heard reports on the past season's activities and difficulties. It was Introduced by Major Frederick McLaughlin, owner of the Chicago Black Hawks.

President Calder's ruling, following the affair at Ottawa in which he expelled Bill Coutu, of Boston, from the National Hockey league; suspended Hooley Smith, of Ottawa, for one calendar month, for a deliberate attack on Oliver, a Boston player; and fined other players and those mentioned above for rowdy conduct in the game, were upheld by the league directors.

In accordance with the rules of the N.H.L.. which leave the actions of club owners and managers to the jurisdiction of the board of directors of the league only, the question of what part Charles Adams, of Boston, and Manager Art Ross had in the affair after the Ottawa game was considered. It was decided that there was no proof that Adams had taken any part in the attack on the officials and he was exonerated. Ross's part was considered and action in his case was turned back by the directors to President Calder for whatever proceed-e considers should be taken. No announcement in this connection is expected until the end of the week.

President Calder will leave tomorrow night for Toronto where he will confer on Tuesday with the heads of the minor pro-leagues at their meeting there. New agreements will be considered between the major league and the minors.

Rules Committee Named

A rules committee is to be appointed. consisting of two representatives from each section, who will study the and bring their recommendations before a future meeting of the league The Vezina trophy, donated by the Canadien Hockey club In memory of Georges Vezina, the famous goalkeeper who guarded the Canadien net for 15 years in professional hockey encounters. was accepted by the league. The trophy is to be awarded each year to the goalkeeper in the National Hockey League having the best average. It will be held for the next twelve months by George Hainsworth, successor to Vezina of the goal position with the Canadlens, who led the net guardians in the N.H.L. last season.

No applications for franchises were received at the meeting. While no definite decision was made, it is certain that the league will remain a 10-club loop for the time being, and it is altogether likely that it will operate next year in the two sections as last season.