The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act:

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The Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act provided for appointment to a number of government jobs on the basis of competitive exams. This was a major reform in the way government jobs were filled, as prior to this act, many jobs were filled through the spoils system, where jobs were given to supporters of elected officials. The act was signed into law by President Chester A. Arthur in 1883, not by James Garfield. Benjamin Harrison was not president at the time of the act, and he did not veto it. The act did not establish racial quotas, and it applied to a variety of government jobs, not just the postal service.