COMPETITIVE CONDITIONS IN INTERNATIONAL TRADE. 133
expositions, 218,000 lire for chambers of commerce. Commercial and
industrial schools secured in contributions and subsidies 2,352,800
lire, in addition to which various extraordinary subventions were
made.?
Business organization.—The system of chambers of commerce
and industry in Italy is regulated by law. Such chambers were
instituted by the law of 1862, their central offices and peculiar territory
 being established by royal decree, and their purpose, as defined
 by the later law of 1910, being to represent before the government
 the commercial and industrial interests of their respective
districts and to develop commerce therein. Among other duties,
these chambers of commerce study commercial problems and present
 suggestions for their solution to the Government; at the reouest
 of the Government they collect and furnish statistical data upon
the commercial situation in their districts; they appoint arbitrators
in commercial disputes; they control the stock exchanges; by authorization
 of the minister of agriculture, industry, and commerce,
they may assume direction of the commercial museums; they offer
premiums for the encouragement of commerce and industry; they
provide for institutions of commercial instruction, and organize industrial
 and commercial expositions at home and abroad. Regular
reports are made to the (Government by these chambers touching
their various operations.? There are more than 75 institutions in
[taly, situated in the chief towns of the Provinces and districts.
Italian chambers of commerce are also established in foreign countries.
 ‘These render reports to the home government for the purpose
of informing the business men upon economic conditions abroad,
pointing out the causes which hinder the development of Italian trade
and how these hindrances may be overcome. There are 18 or more
of these foreign chambers of commerce, situated in the various important
 commercial centers, among which are three in the United
States and five in South America and Mexico. The Italian Government
 pays such organizations a subsidy.’
The Government also sends abroad commercial agents to secure
information for the good of Italian commerce. There are 18 or more
such agents in as many capitals of the world.
In Milan, Turin, and Venice the Government subsidizes commercial
museums for the development of commerce.
In Ttaly, also, resort has been made to the export syndicate. In 1897
more than 100 firms became the initial members of such an organiza-"1
 Rendiconto Generale Consuntive della Amministrazione dello Stato, 1912-13, vol. 13,
op. 2308, 2308, 2332, 2340, 2364.
* Leggi Usuall, Vol. II, Part I, p. 429, and Vol. II, Appendice, pp. 92-94.
'G. Jaja: L'Italia, Milan, 1912, p. 359.
V Azlone del Ministero di Agricoltura, Industria e Commerclo, 1909, p. 85, fol
¥Jaja, op. cit, p. 860.
A Azione del Ministero di Agricoltura, Industria e Commercio, 1909, p. 98.