Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/279

 CHESTER ALAN ARTHUR 231 ruary 29, 1884, and February 11, 1885. The &quot;act to regulate and improve the civil service of the United States&quot; was passed January 16, 1883, and under it a series of rules was established by the president, and the law and rules at all times re ceived his unqualified support, and that of the heads of the several departments. The final distri bution of the moneys derived from the Geneva award among meritorious sufferers on account of the rebel cruisers fitted out or harbored in British ports was provided for by act of June 5, 1882. In the annual message of 1884 a suitable pension to Gen. Grant was recommended, and, upon his an nouncement that he would not accept a pension, a special message of February 3, 1885, urged the passage of a bill creating the office of general of the army on the retired list, to enable the president in his discretion to appoint Gen. Grant. Such a bill was passed March 3, 1885, and the president on that day made the nomination, and it was con firmed in open session amid demonstrations of ap proval, in a crowded senate-chamber, a few minutes before the expiration of the session. The president attended, as the guest of the city of Boston, the celebration of the Webster His torical society at Marshfield, Mass., and made brief addresses in Faneuil Hall, October 11, 1882, and at Marshfield, October 13. He recommended the Southern Exposition at Louisville, Ky., by a letter