CONDITIONS IN PARTICULAR INDUSTRIES, 243

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No instances of cooperation among manufacturers of strictly competing
 lines were reported in this branch of the iron and steel industry.
 Some examples of the present forms of cooperation follow.
A New York firm is the salaried agent for 10 principals, manufacturing
 chiefly noncompeting machinery lines and is at all times
under their direction. The export business of each concern is carried
 on under the name of this firm. The manufacturers have no
contract or definite combination, but they have an understanding
among themselves to cooperate through this firm. This firm does
not guarantee the accounts but sells on terms and under instructions
 laid down by the principals.
Another New York firm represents about a dozen manufacturers
of machinery and agricultural implements. This firm sends salesmen
 around the world, each of the concerns represented advancing a
certain amount of money toward their monthly expenses. The total
sales and the percentage of expense for each concern is determined
at the end of a certain period. This method has been used for 23
years. The lines handled are more or less allied.
A group of hardware and tool manufacturers have been and are
sharing in Russian trade in the following manner: Some 20 manufacturers
 got together and arranged to establish agencies in about 15
commercial centers in Russia. These agents were mainly merchants
buying on open account and not on commission. The organization is
financed by a prominent New York banking house, through which all
payments by agents in Russia are made. A feature of the plan is
that annually a joint representative of these manufacturers visits
these centers for the purpose of pushing the trade and looking after
the interests of the members of the organization. All expenses of establishing
 these agencies and for their supervision by the representatives
 periodically wre shared by the members. Starting with some
20 members the number has increased to about 62.
A manufacturer of tools in the East reported that for some years
his company had cooperated with from three to five other factories
handling associated but not competing lines in obtaining Australian
business. Their plan has consisted in sending a joint representative
and in sharing the expenses.
Five or six companies interested in builders’ hardware, heavy hardware,
 and kindred lines are represented in Buenos Aires by one representative
 with two assistants. The representative is paid on the
basis of the business done and the cooperating companies agree that
in the lines handled by him, all sales in his territory shall be made
through him.
Proposed cooperation.—The manufacturers and exporters of fin-‘shed
 iron and steel factory products whose views were obtained by
the Commission in general were favorable to cooperative organizations
 for export trade. Over 80 per cent of those replying directly