Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-15
NEWTON IS NAMED
HOOVER SECRETARY
Minnesota Representative
Will Act as Administrative
Assistant to President.

President Hoover today appointed
Walter H. Newton, for 10 years men,
Der Of the House from Minnesota, to be
his third secretary, thus completing the
selection of the three secretaries pro-
vided by Congress.
In making public today Representa-
tive Newton's appointment it was ex-
planned that he will act in the capacity
of administrative assistant to the Pres
ident in respect to the various indie
pendent establishments of the Govern
ment over which the President has di-
rect responsibility. He also will gen.
orally assist In the customary work in
coordination of the various administra-
tive activities of all the departments
and independent establishments OF the
Government.
Mr.. Newton also will undertake spe-
cial tasks for the President, the first
of which will be to cooperate with
members of the cabinet In the study and
development of plan for reorganiz-
ing the executive branch of the Federal
Government. Mr.. Hoover Is known to
be extremely anxious to bring about the
practical reorganization of the depart
merltS and has given considerable study
10 the subject throughout the nearly
eight years he served in the cabinet.
VIII BE Contact Man.
In addition Mr. Newton will maintain
contact for the President with the
various administrative agencies not in
cluded as independent bureaus. Aside
from the quasi judicial commissions
whose many personnel questions come
directly to the President, the following
administrative, or partly administrative,
agencies in some degree report to the
President:
American Battle Monument Commits
sion. Commission of Pine Arts. director
Of public buildings and public parks
of the National Capital, Employees
Compensation Commission, Federal
Narcotics Control Board. General Ac-
counting ONCE Geographic Board. Ma
tional Advisory Committee for Aero
nautics, National Home for Disabled
Volunteer Soldiers, Personnel Classifi-
cation Board. Rock Greek and Potomac
Parkway Commission, United States
Shipping Board, Emergency Fleet Cor
poration, Smithsonian Institution. AS
trophysical Observatory, Bureau OF
American Ethnology, international
ternational Exchange Service, Ma
tional Gallery of Art. National Museum,
National Geological Park and the Vet
Grams Bureau.
Mr.. Newton's appointment as one OF
the Presidents three secretaries came
as surprise. 1t Is thought at the
White House today that he Will De
ready to assume his duties within the
next few days Mr.. Newton's salary as
secretary will be $4,000, the same as
he received as a member OF the House.
During the last national campaign
Mr.. Newton was director OF the speak
ers' bureau, with headquarters in Chi
cago, and has been credited generally
as having given valuable service.
His name was frequently mentioned
the period Mr.. Hoover was in the
process of selecting his official family.
Elected to House In 1918.
Mr.. Newton was born in Minneapolis
in 1880. After being educated In the
public schools of that city he was grad
uated from the Law School OF the Uni
yersity of Minnesota. He was first as
sistant county attorney OF Minneapolis
from 1914 to 1918 and in 1918 was
elected to the House of Representatives
where he has served continuously ever
since. He is q member of the commit
tee on interstate and foreign commerce.
Mr.. Newton has been identified with
the Republican national committee dur
ing the last four campaigns. He was
assistant director of the speakers bu-
reau in 1924, Of which bureau he was
made the head in 1928.
In addition to Mr.. Newton, President
IJnattarsr Saarat a riac George AkHrSOD.
former Minneapolis newspaper CORE
spondent and for two years personal
secretary to Mr.. Hoover while he was
Secretary of Commerce. and Lawrence
Richey, who has been associated with
Mr. Hoover since the days when he was
United States food administrator. In
appointing three secretaries Mr.. Hoover
has made it plain that they will be Of
equal rank as well as receiving equal
pay. Their special duties have been
clearly defined. Mr.. Akerson serves as