Institutional racism reforms of the spoils system in place since the 1830s, and abuses of the post-war Grant-Jacksonian era; when Congress authorized the president to appoint a Civil Service Commission and prescribe regulations for admission to public service. A dis-satisfied office-seeker assassinated President Garfield in 1881 and Congress was motivated to pass the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act in 1883 which firmly established civil service. During reconstruction, this enabled the federal government to provide jobs for newly freed blacks in the south (primarily the Postal Service) where no other employment opportunities existed for them. Since the inception of the merit system in
SS Belgravia (1881) SS Belgravia (1881) SS "Belgravia" was a transatlantic liner that served in the 1880s and early 1890s. She was wrecked in 1896. SS "Belgravia" was an ocean liner of the Anchor Line, built in Glasgow Scotland by D. & W. Henderson Ltd. and launched in December 1881. After fitting out, her maiden voyage from Glasgow to New York followed in March 1882. The vessel had a single funnel and was steam propelled by a single screw with auxiliary sails which were still common in the 1880s. "Belgravia" was primarily designed for the immigrant trade and had a capacity of around