In 1880, Democratic Senator George H. Pendleton of Ohio introduced legislation to require the selection of civil servants based on merit as determined by an examination, but the measure failed to pass. Pendleton's bill was largely based on reforms proposed by the Jay Commission, which Hayes had assigned to investigate the Port of New York. It also expanded similar civil service reforms attempted by President Franklin Pierce 30 years earlier.
In 1880 Democratic Senator George H Pendleton of Ohio introduced legislation to require the selection of civil servants based on merit as determined by an examination but the measure failed to pass Pendleton's bill was largely based on reforms proposed by the Jay Commission which Hayes had assigned to investigate the Port of New York It also expanded similar civil service reforms attempted by President Franklin Pierce 30 years earlier