The passing of the Pendleton Civil Services Act 1883, supported by Senator George H. Pendleton of Ohio and signed into law by President Chester A. Arthur, could be seen as one of the landmark reforms packages that were desperately needed in the United States during the post Civil War period, wherein public corruption and political decadence were at its zenith, and the ruling powers had a field day in indulging in the spoils systems.
Under this system, political parties who were voted into power sought to recompense their loyal supporters by providing them with the coveted position in the administration. This was, however, without considering their qualification for the job or whether they would be in a position to carry out their responsibilities in the desired manner. More than the suitability of candidates in Federal positions, what was more critical to the ruling government at this juncture was the fact that important portfolios were manned by their own agents, who would ask no questions and commit no ‘wrongs.’ However, with rampant corruption and a free-for-all indulged by party loyalists, the citizens were the most affected, especially in the areas of Federal employment.
However, the reforms process took a compelling turn when President James A. Garfield was assassinated by a disgruntled office-seeker in 1883. This event set into motion a chain of events, including the ultimate passing and signing of the Pendleton Civil Services Act, whose main objective has been to ensure Federal government appointments on merit alone and not political affiliations. It also sought to secure jobs of Federal Government employees against arbitrary termination and instill larger dozes of public accountability among public servants to ensure that they acted in the best interests of the country and not in their own interests or those of ruling political powers.
The fact remains that this system was used only for Federal jobs and that too, at lower cadres. These reform packages were mainly intended to weaken and even eliminate the spoils system, as a result of which capable, experienced and efficient employees were replaced by political appointees, with neither training, experience, nor aptitude for the work. These aspects indeed set dangerous precedents for the administration of this country and its future. While the motives of the Pendleton Civil Services Reforms Bill were indeed honorable, it addressed only Federal employability, and this, in more ways than one, restricted and curbed its overall applicability.
Nevertheless, the setting up of the United States Civil Service Commissions with the appointment of three Commissioners to oversee that the filling up of vacancies in government cadre jobs were according to prescribed norms and conditions, the holding of tests and examinations for meriting selection, and the compartmentalization of politics in employment selections, are indeed laudable and is in line of selecting employees through the criteria of merit. The personal characteristics could be in terms of their allegiance to ruling parties, without any real merit or justification for holding such a position. It is further stated that “all the offices, places, and employments so arranged or to be arranged in classes shall be filled by selections according to grade from among those graded highest as the results of such competitive examinations.”