The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-03-25
GROCERS' CASE MAY BEGIN NEXT WEEK Announcement Is Made Fol- lowing a Conference GEN. WRIGHT PRESENT COnfers With Harrison and Street With View of Making Arrange
 ments for Beginning of
 Dissolution Suit
GEN. WRIGHT PRESENT

With the purpose in view of cutting down the consumption of time in the trial of the case of the United States against the Southern wholesale Grocers' associa- ton, conference was held here yesterday between Gen. Luke E. Wright, for the defendants; O. E. Harrison, Assistant At torney General of the United States. and Judge Oliver D. Street, United States dis trict attorney.
 The conference began immediately after the arrival of Gen. Luke Wright from his home in Memphis. The attorneys for both sides in the noted dissolution case realize the ease with which the examina- ton may slide into waste of days. To overcome this danger the attorneys con- ferred long time yesterday, at the con- clusion of which there was no formal statement about the talk, but it was hint ed that the case would not consume the great amount of time as at frs sup posed.
 General Wright, who appears for the defendants In the dissolution cases insti- tuted some time ago, said yesterday that there was nothing of unusual interest connected with his viist here He said that Assistant Attorney General Harrison requested him to visit Birmingham, where they could take counsel as to the best means of handling the litigation re- sulting from the activities of the gov ernment against southern grocerymen. General Wright said he was pleased with the appointment of R. N, Bell as exami- her and believed the case would proceed smoothly. General Wright yesterday read over great deal of the written testi- mony which it Is gathered will be intro- ouced in the case, but did not have any comments to make as to the evidence yes- terday.
 After the conference between the attor- Heys it was stated that it was possible that the first session in the case would be held next week. This announcement was made by o. D. Street, district attorney, who qualified the announcement by say ing that there might be developments which would cause further delay, but at this time the wish was general to take the first testimony in the federal build ing within few days.
 The announcement was also made yes- terday that the formal appointment of Robert N Bell as examiner in the case lad been received in Birmingham from the United States court of appeals sitting in New Orleans. The appointment was recommended by the opposing sounsel and the formal order was in the nature of a routine matter. The order received here recited that the court of appeals reposed trust in the integrity, fairness and abili- ty of R. N. Bell and that he was appoint ed to take whatever testimony was of fered in the case of the United States vs. the Southern Wholesale Grocers associa- ton and submit his findings to the court of appeals when completed
 The appointment of MT. Bell was filed upon the records in the office of Maj. Charles J. Allison, United States clerk, and MT. Bell will possibly file his qualify ing papers within a short time.
 From what can be gathered around the federal building the dissolution case at first supposed to be one of long duration will be completed far sooner than antici- pated It has been noted that an order IidS Deen BIdlltu py liC SOuit VI dPPS0io to give the case precedence over other lit igation which will do away with trial of the case before a district court. AS soon as the special examiner takes the testimony he will sum it up for the court of appeals and forward 1t to New Orleans That court will render a de- cision which can be appealed only to the supreme court of the United States.
 This order. according to the federal at- torneys, will prevent a delay of at least six months and with the economy of time now being outlined it is gathered the &C., tual taking of testimony will be far shorter than otherwise believed.
 At the conclusion of the conference yes terday Judge Street said:
 "Ths conference today was for the pur- pose of outlining the preliminary moves in the case and was attended by Gen eral Wright at the invitation of MT liar rlson and myself.
 We went over the preliminaries and it is expected that quite'a great deal of time will be saved in handling the case, as the first steps have been smoothed over by agreement
 ''l SnOulu not Dt SuTprlScu II tHo TIT Se taking of testimony in the case would oc- cur next week. The first session will be held in Birmingham. The appointment of MT. Bell as examiner was received in Bir- mingham today and all that is now re- uuired for him to organize court Is to qualify before the proper authority The case will be pushed forward rapidly after the first work is over and we believe will be concluded much earlier than antici- pated heretofore
 General Wright after being in the city all day returned to his home in Memphis Hast night. He said he would return to be present at the beginning of the case and that either MT. Ewing or himself would be present at each session
 It is stated that the taking of testimony will be held in several cities throughout the country The general idea is that Atlanta. Richmond New York, Chicago, Washington, Louisville, Cincinnati, Mem phis and other cities will be visited by the court in an effort to get at the bottom of the practices of the grocers' associa- ton.