On July 2, 1881, a man approached President Garfield and yelled, "I'm a Stalwart, now Arthur is President!" before firing two shots into the President's back. The President was taken to the White House where he lived for two and a half months while doctors tried repeatedly to remove a bullet that was lodged near his spine. President James A. Garfield died on the morning of September 19, 1881. Vice President Chester A. Arthur was inaugurated as the twenty-first President of the United States later that same day.
Legislation
Chinese Exclusion Bill
In 1882 Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Bill which barred Chinese immigrants from entering the country. President Arthur vetoed the bill, but his veto was overturned.
Pendleton Civil Service Act
On January 16, 1883, President Arthur signed into law the Pendleton Civil Service Act, which provided for the classification of 10% of civil service jobs, and the establishment of a non-partisan committee to draw up and administer tests that would ensure that those classified government jobs were given out to only the best qualified candidates. The Pendleton Civil Service Act also made the practice extorting political contributions from subordinate government employees illegal.
Tariff Committee
Concerned that the tariff system was injuring the economy by taking money out of circulation during a time of government surplus, President Arthur established a non-partisan committee that would study the tariff system and be able to make educated suggestions toward reform. He urged Congress to listen to the findings of his committee, but when the committee suggested an across-the-board tariff reduction of 20 percent, Congress ignored it.
