74 REPORT ON COOPERATION IN AMERICAN EXPORT TRADE,

pany if a year’s notice is given (but such a notice can not be given
before the business year 1910 has been completed, and later, in extending
 the organization, not before 1915). Only in case unusual
competition develops can the syndicate be dissolved in 1915. The
association is composed of 26 firms. In 1918 there were only two
small factories outside of the syndicate, namely, Max Bahr, Landsberg
 (a. W.), and the Westfiilische Jute-Spinnerei &amp; Weberei,
Ahaus. The statistical yearbook for the German Empire, 1912, mentions
 30 large jute companies. This number includes only such firms
as work exclusively in jute and excludes those which he flax and
other spinning material. According to the official tables, the 30 mills
above mentioned operated 167,393 spindles in 1910, from which jute
yarn and thread to the value of 64,960,000 marks ($15,460,480) was
roduced.
P The object of the Jute Syndicate is to regulate the terms of production
 and the sale of jute products as far as possible. The syndicate
 exercises a far-reaching control over the business operations
of its members. It can limit the extension of any of its members,
force them to observe maximum working hours, restrict prices, and
standardize rules for sale. The operations of jobbers are drastically
restricted by the syndicate.
The Association of German Wholesale Jute Dealers has an agreement
 with the syndicate by which dealers’ commissions are regulated.
 New spindles and looms can not be introduced without the
advice and consent of the syndicate. The amount of jute imported
is largely dependent upon the price policies of the cartel.
The proposed nitrate monopoly. —The most recent attempt to form
a monopoly in Germany was made in the Reichstag on March 8,
1915, when it was proposed to create a nitrogen trade monopoly
{Stickstoff-Handels-Monopol). This attempt is regarded as being
a war development and was necessitated in order to preserve nitrate
for ammunition purposes. As a result of the strenuous opposition
which developed from many quarters, no national law was passed.
The subject is still being discussed.
The objections to the proposed nitrate monopoly were many. 1t
was stated that such a monopoly would severely injure many other
important German industries and have a depressing effect on the
foreign trade. The temporary necessity for preserving the nitrate
supply may only last a short time, and in such a case the proposed
legislation would only be detrimental in disturbing existing conditions.

The proposal to create a nitrate monopoly did ‘not reach a sufficiently
 advanced stage so that the details of organization were all
worked out. It would probably have taken the form of most German
 syndicates, i. e., it would have been organized as a limited
liability company (G. m. b. H.) with absolute power of control of
production. The practical problems of marketing would presumably
have been managed by a central selling organization.
List of German cartels showing signs of activity during 1913.—
Since nearly all literature upon cartels ceased with the outbreak of
the European war in August, 1914, the'reports of prominent German
 commercial organizations for the year 1913 furnish the best
up-to-date information. The report of the Association of Elder
Merchants, Berlin, 1918 (Aeltesten der Kaufmannschaft), contains