Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-08
SAYS HE HAS NOT RESIGNED
Appointment of Basil Miles with
out Examination"
NO CHARGES AS TO INCUMBENT
Sketch of Career of Present Super
intendent of Foreign Mails.
Civil War Veteran.

Of Basil Miles Of Pennsylvania, third sec
retary of the United States embassy at
Berlin, as superintendent of foreign mails
in the Post Office Department, to succeed
Capt. Newton NJ. Brooks. was received
| with astonishment generally in the Post
Office Department today, and by none
more than Capt. Brooks. who says he
knows nothing whatever of the facts In
| the case, why he is to be superseded or
where he is to be placed.
You can say positively that have not
resigned" he said.
| It Is understood that the President
made an order the latter part of June
permitting the appointment Of Mr.. Miles
| to the position of superintendent Of for
| eign mails without examination" be-
cause the place is one that comes within
the classified list of the civil service. So
| far as can be ascertained there are no
charges whatever against Capt. Brooks
Appointed in 1872.
| Capt. N. M. Brooks was appointed to
81, 200 clerkship in the Post Office Depart
ment July 81, 1872: was promoted to a
81 600 clerkship October 10, 1874; was
made chief clerk of the Office of foreign
mails. at 5000. February 1. 1884. and ST.
perintendent of foreign mails, at S. 500,
November g, 1890. succeeding Nicholas M.
Bell. He has served under twenty-one
Postmasters General. from Creswell to
Meyer; has four times been United States
delegate to congresses of the International
Postal Union-at Vienna In 1891. at WASH
ington in 1897, at Berne in 1900 and at
Rome, where the last congress was held.
in 1906
On his return from Rome Capt. Brooks
was specially congratulated by then Post
master General George B. Cortelyou for
his able representation Of the United
States in that Congress.
Initiates "Sea Post Service"
Capt. Brooks initiated what is known as
the ''sea post service between the United
States and Germany; and when the con-
vention providing for it was signed. Do
cember "A. 1890, Baron G. A. Sachse, who
represented the German government, tele
graphed the news to the emperor as a
Christmas present"
Through the efforts Of Capt. Brooks the
first parcels post with Europe was put In
operation with Germany, the convention
master General Charles Emory Smith, on
the part Of the United States. and A. Won
Mumm. imperial minister extraordinary,
for Germany.
decorations to Capt. Brooks for his excep-
tional services in foreign postal matters,
the first. by the German Emperor, Great
ing him a knight commander OF the Order
OF the Red Eagle; the second, by tho gov
ernment of Liberia creating him COM
mander of the Order Of the Redemption,
and the third, by Venezuela. creating him
commander of the Order of the Liberia
tor. In each instance the Senate three
times passed the bill permitting the ac-
ceptance Of the decorations. but the
House of Representatives failed to act.
Commended by Name.
1t appears also that Capt. Brooks Is
one Of the very few officers in the Post
Office Department who have been specially
commended by name in a report Of the
Postmaster General. the instance in his
case being found in an annual report of
Postmaster General Wanamaker.
1t Is said that the foreign mails dis
patched from this country have nearly
Quadrupled in volume since Capt. Brooks
| was made superintendent. and that the
great foreign branch" established In
New York city for the quick handling Of
incoming and outgoing mails. was due to
Capt. Brooks recommendation.
Capt Brooks has splendid record as
a veteran OF the civil war. He left q
| foot on the field at Spottsylvania Court
house during Hancocks famous charge
| the morning of May IL, 1854. His mill
| tary service commenced in May, 1851, and
was continuous until he lost his foot. In
December. 1854, as the result OF an ex-
animation by board of army officers he
was commissioned by President Lincoln
| as captain in the Veteran Reserve Corps
| U.SV., and served as such until Decem.
| Der. 1867.
He is past commander Of the Depart.
ment Of the Potomac. G. A. R., and q
past president of the Union Soldiers AL.
lance, as well as a member of the Loyal
Legion and the Sons of the American
Revolution.
Much Feeling Among Friends.
There is much feeling among Cant
Brooks friends. especially the old vet
erans. at what they regard as discour-
teous treatment in being supplanted with
out any advice whatever save what the
newspapers have given him. 1t is UNDER
stood that a one-thousand- -sixJl1undred
dollar clerkship is to be rendered to him.
Mr.. Miles. the appointee. was private
| secretary to the Postmaster General
when Mr.. Meyer was amba ssador to Rms.
sla He was made third secretary to the
embassy at St. Petersburg in August
| 1919. and was transferred to the emha ssv
| at Berlin In May, 1907 Mr.. Miles vas
| to be promoted to second secretary NJ the
embassy at Mexico City when his resiena.
| tion was received at the State Denart.
ment He will take up his new duties
1 SeDtemher 1 ' NNeAcS