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Chester Arthur Becoms President (VUS.8)
Ascending to the Presidency at the death of James Garfield, President Arthur is best known for curbing Chinese immigration, and helping to reform the civil service system. He also led a battle against Congress’s attempt to “raid the treasury” by passing pork barrel projects, but thase efforts ultimately failed. -
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Chester Arthur Administration
Ascending to the Presidency at the death of James Garfield, President Arthur is best known for curbing Chinese immigration, and helping to reform the civil service system. He also led a battle against Congress’s attempt to “raid the treasury” by passing pork barrel projects, but thase efforts ultimately failed. -
River and Harbors Act
This was a spending bill that Arthur opposed – it appropriated $19 million for various internal improvements. Sensing this was pork barreling (spending Federal tax dollars on special local projects), and enticing corruption, President Arthur vetoed the measure. Congress overrode the veto. MORE -
Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 (VUS.8a)
In response to the growing animosity toward Chinese immigrants in the West, and now that the transcontinental railroad was complete, the need for cheap labor was diminishing. Congress passed this law which ended Chinese immigration and denied citizenship to those who were already residing in the US. Read MORE -
Pendleton Act (VUS.8d)
This bill created the modern civil service system. It eventually replaced the old patronage system (“spoils system”), by setting up a commission that planned open exams for many government jobs. This was a step forward in reducing the corruption that plagued the federal government. MORE
