34 REPORT ON COOPERATION IN AMERICAN ‘EXPORT TRADE.
dicate in its present form by “ Das Reichskaligesetz” (the Imperial
potash law) of May 25, 1910.
In the fcrmation of this new syndicate the results aimed at were
the fixing of the total amount of production, the limitation of the
quantity and selling price of the export potash, the prevention of destructive
 competition and thus the protection of the workmen, and
the imposition of conditions intended to discourage the founding of
too many new works. By reason of its absolute ownership of some of
the mines and its ownership of the majority of the stock of others the
German Government is the principal stockholder in the present Potash
 Syndicate and is able to exercise almost absolute control.
By the new law the potash mines were organized under German
laws into a combination which took the legal form of “ Gesellschaft
mit beschrinkter Haftung” (limited-liability company). This kind
of company partakes of several of the essential features of a stock
corporation and of a partnership. It is well adapted to cartel or
syndicate purposes. There are no restrictions as to residence and
nationality of the members of such a company, and they may be
either natural or juristic persons. It is therefore possible for any
number of undertakings existing in various forms to organize such
a limited company. A company so formed can act as a central office
for receiving and allotting orders to its members, receiving payment,
regulating prices, and issuing dividends. Balance sheets do not have
to be published, and the resolutions of members may be made either
in general or in special meetings, or, if unanimous, may be made
without any meeting at all by simply being put in writing and
signed by all the members. The company is a juristic person and
is represented by one or more managers. The shareholders’ liability
is limited. Contributions to stock may be made either in kind or in
securities. The construction of the company can be altered to suit
almost any conceivable case.
Under such an elastic legal form as the above, then, the present
potash combination was organized. The most noticeable feature of
the potash law is the great power given to the German Government,
which will be seen from its provisions as summarized below. Measures
 were taken for the regulation of thé production of potash salts
until December 81, 1925. For this purpose a Verteilungsstelle (distributing
 committee) consisting of seven members, the chairman and
two members of which are appointed by the chancellor of the Empire,
 with the approval of the Bundesrat, and the rest of whom are
elected by the mine owners, was instituted. This Verteilungsstelle
has the authority to regulate every fifth year the total amount of
production, the amount for inland sale, and the amount to be exported
 for a period of five years. It has also the power to decide how
much potash each mine may produce, how much each mine may
export, to designate the export mines, which are usually those near
the seacoast, and to determine what quality of salts shall be produced
 by each mine. From the decisions of the Verteilungsstelle
appeal may be taken to a Berufungskommission (commission of
appeal), consisting of five members who are appointed by the’ chancellor
 of the Empire, with the approval of the Bundesrat. Adequate
punishment, in the form of fines up to 10,000 marks, is provided by
the law for infraction of its provisions. A maximum price is set for
the inland sale, and the price at the mines for the foreign sale may