Evening star., 1932-08-05
CHAPLIN TO ENTER
CABINET MONDAY
New Commerce Secretary
Expected Here Tomorrow
for Talk With Hoover.

Roy D. Chaplin. Detroit automobile
manufacturer, will on Monday take over
the supervision of the activity of IT,
900 Commerce Department employees
scattered throughout the world in their
quest of aiding American business.
1t was announced at the Commerce
Department Building today that Rob
ert P. Lamont, the retiring Secretary
OF Commerce. was expected to return
here from New York on Monday, at
which time ne would turn over the
helm to Mr.. Chaplin. who on Wednesday
was named by President Hoover to sue
ceed Mr.. Lamont.
Mr.. Lamont resigned from Mr.. Hoo
ver's cabinet, Of which he had been q
member for more than three years. TO
accept the presidency OF the American
Iron and Steel Institute. He Is ex-
pected to leave Washington for New
York prior to August ID, when he will
be formally elected to that pest.
Chaplin Due Tomorrow.
Mr.. Chaplin is now in Detroit, but
vas expected to arrive here probably
tomorrow for a final conference with
President Hoover before taking over the
cabinet portfolio Mr.. Chaplin con-
ferred with President Hoover Wednes-
day and left Immediately for Detroit
before the White House announced Mr..
LamOnts resignation and his successor.
Only in the Secretary's suite Of the
building was. there any activity today
IN connection with the coming of the
new executive and the preparation for
the departure Of Mr.. Lamont.
The retiring officials desk was being
cle1red by one of his secretaries.
Mr.. Lamont is known to have avoided
laVlSness In equipping his suite, because,
as he was quoted as saying my sue.
ceSSor may not like it," He ordered q
large part of the furniture fund be
used for other purposes, including the
purchase of new printing presses, at a
cost OF $4,000, for the Coast and Geo.
detic Survey.
Makes Elevator Public.
When criticism was raised over the
building designers equipping his suite
with private elevator he ordered the
lift open to the public. 1t is in oper-
alton today to all those who desire to
pass by three fast-moving public lifts
ana open heavy bronZed door just for
q semi-excluSive ride. Not many Of the
o,OOO employees In the building take ad-
vantage of this opportunity, it was said.
MI Lamont's decision to leave public
figured prominently for 20 years before
entering politics was reached early last
month, 1t became known today.
Charles M. Schwab chairman OF the
board Of the Bethlehem Steel CORPORA
ton, Is to retire as president of the
institute to make room for the former
Secretary Of Commerce. He will, how
ever. continue as chairman of the insti-
tute's board.
Institute to Be Vitalized.
In steel trade circles Mr.. Lamont ac-
ceptance Of the organization presidency
was regarded as a move toward full
f1llment Of a long g-planned reorganiza-
ton designed to make the institute q
more aggressive and vital element in
the steel industry. At the semi-annual
meeting of institute members In May
Mr. Schwab outlined some general . ans
for widening the scope of its activities,
and since that time reports have been
heard that definite steps were under
way to achieve the new aims.
Mr.. Lamont will devote all his time
to the new past. He will PROBABLY, az
cording to opinion expressed in the steel
trade today, give especial attention to
the development of new markets fer
American steel products and the pres
ervation Of harmony among producers
on questions relating to steel prices and
wage policies.
This will mark a considerable dsvia-
ton from the old activities Of the insti-
tute, which had to do largely with
perfunctory gathering and dissemination
Of statistics relating to the steel in
duStry.