80 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS many declaring the principle to be wholly un- American, and calculated to build up a favored class, who would be in great measure independent of their executive chiefs, etc. But on March 3, 1871, an act was passed authorizing the president to appoint a civil service commission, and to pre scribe rules and regulations governing the appoint ments of civil officers. He appointed seven gentle men on this commission, selecting those who had been most prominent in advocating the measure, and transmitted their report to congress, with a special message urging favorable action. The plan recommended, which provided for competitive ex aminations, was approved, and was put into opera tion January 1, 1872. An appropriation was pro cured for the expenses of the commission and the carrying out of the plan, but congress gave little countenance to the measure. Up to 1874 the presi dent continued to urge that body to give legislative sanction to the rules and methods proposed, and declared that it was impossible to maintain the sys tem without the "positive support of congress." He finally notified congress that if it adjourned without action he would regard it as a disapproval of the system, and would abandon it; but he con tinued it until its expenses were no longer provided for. The agitation of the question had been pro ductive of much good. The seeds thus sown had
