THE QUESTION: Frank Lane says some clubs will be "right next door to the poorhouse if they persist in paying large bonuses to promising youngsters." Do you agree?

TOM YAWKEY
Owner
Boston Red Sox
Lane is wrong. The people paying these bonuses are good baseball men and good businessmen. This is not the road to the poorhouse although there might be a time when earnings may restrict the amounts. There is no short answer to the problem, but the unrestricted draft might help.

LOU PERINI
Owner
Milwaukee Braves
If we abolish the bonus, it will set the game back years. I'll vote for the bonus if it ever comes to a vote. I think the bonus is the best leveler in baseball. Any team can take a chance on a youngster and pay him a bonus to sign. The result is some of them really click.

LEE MACPHAIL
Director of Player Personnel
New York Yankees
I agree with Lane. Some bonus spending has been ridiculous. It's so ridiculous that it has to simmer down after a while for the salvation of some clubs. It is very difficult to spot good first-year players. We make as many mistakes as any other team. Why pay for your mistakes?

ROY HAMEY
General manager
Philadelphia Phillies
I don't subscribe to the poorhouse angle. Baseball is as highly competitive as any other industry. Every club must make every effort to improve under existing rules. I think that the major leagues will possibly arrive at a satisfactory solution of the bonus in the not too distant future.

J. C. (BILL) JESSUP
President of the Carolina League
Roxboro, N.C.
I feel that this big bonus money could be channeled to better advantage. The bonus paid to one player would cover the losses in our league for a full season, as it would in other leagues. In the long run this money, given to us, would develop more players for the major leagues.

JIM CAMPBELL
Business manager
Detroit Tigers
I agree wholeheartedly, and I am in favor of the unrestricted draft. That move would automatically curb the bonus and channel the bonus money back to the minor leagues, because no large bonus will be paid unless it is certain the player will make the majors within a year.

SEVEN PHOTOS