civil service reform was also an important issue for state and local governments. while only three states (massachusetts in 1883, new york in 1884, and ohio in 1902) passed legislation that required civil service for municipalities, adoption of civil service reform was widespread. some assessments of the adoption of civil service reform during the first quarter of the twentieth century conclude that the pendleton act was a weak statute in that it did not require federal agencies to classify their position under civil service and did not mention state and local governments.