In April 1881 , President James A. Garfield launched an investigation into the Star Routes corruption . Garfield 's investigation revealed among the major players involved were some of the large contractors , the ex-US Representative Bradley Barlow of Vermont , the Second Assistant Postmaster-General , Thomas J. Brady , some of the subordinates in the department , and Arkansas Senator Stephen W. Dorsey , who became Secretary of the Republican National Committee during Garfield 's 1880 presidential campaign . After Garfield 's assassination , Chester A. Arthur ( who assumed the presidency ) pursued the investigation . Two federal prosecution trials took place in 1882 and 1883 , and the postal ring was finally shut down . Although the fraudulent scheme was widespread , there were few convictions . Many of the defendants in the Star Routes trials were successfully defended by noted lawyer and orator , Robert Ingersoll . Brady and Dorsey were acquitted by the jury in the 1883 trial . Public disgust over the Star Routes graft served as an impetus for civil service reform and the passage of the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act in 1883
assassination
Assassination of James A. Garfield
Star Route scandal