Changes

During his House tenure, Jenckes was mostly known for introducing legislation which created the [[Department of Justice]].<ref name=dojorigins>Shugerman, Jed H. (March 21, 2013). [https://law.utexas.edu/colloquia/archive/papers-public/2012-2013/05-02-13_shugerman_creation_of_doj.pdf The Creation of the Department of Justice: Professionalization Without Civil Rights or Civil Service]. ''The University of Texas at Austin School of Law''. Retrieved November 25, 2021.</ref> Contrary to some narratives that suggest this was an effort to bolster [[Reconstruction]] policies and safeguard the constitutional rights of blacks, it was primarily for the purpose of professionalizing legal practice.<ref>Freilach, Jennifer (April 6, 2017). [https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/165620 When Was the Department of Justice Established?] ''History News Network''. Retrieved November 25, 2021.</ref> Indeed, Jenckes "paid little attention" to protecting Southern blacks.<ref name=dojorigins/>

During his House tenure, Jenckes was mostly known for introducing legislation which created the [[Department of Justice]].<ref name=dojorigins>Shugerman, Jed H. (March 21, 2013). [https://law.utexas.edu/colloquia/archive/papers-public/2012-2013/05-02-13_shugerman_creation_of_doj.pdf The Creation of the Department of Justice: Professionalization Without Civil Rights or Civil Service]. ''The University of Texas at Austin School of Law''. Retrieved November 25, 2021.</ref> Contrary to some narratives that suggest this was an effort to bolster [[Reconstruction]] policies and safeguard the constitutional rights of blacks, it was primarily for the purpose of professionalizing legal practice.<ref>Freilach, Jennifer (April 6, 2017). [https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/165620 When Was the Department of Justice Established?] ''History News Network''. Retrieved November 25, 2021.</ref> Indeed, Jenckes "paid little attention" to protecting Southern blacks.<ref name=dojorigins/>

Considered a "reformer," Jenckes was an early advocate of civil service reform<ref name=papers>[http://memory.loc.gov/service/mss/eadxmlmss/eadpdfmss/2013/ms013048.pdf Thomas A. Jenckes Papers: A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress]. ''Library of Congress''. Retrieved November 25, 2021.</ref> and known as "the father of civil service."<ref name=dojorigins/> When he introduced legislation pushing it, fierce opposition was met by [[Radical Republican]] colleague [[John Logan]] of [[Illinois]],<ref>Jones, John Pickett (1982). [https://books.google.com/books?id=IpkCCUxeyW8C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false John A. Logan: Stalwart Republican from Illinois], p. 21. ''Google Books''. Retrieved November 25, 2021.</ref> who was concerned with the plight of Southern blacks. The enactment of a [[civil service system]] to replace the traditional [[spoils system]] would prevent Republicans from utilizing patronage to benefit blacks, and it was later implemented via the [[Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act]] years after Jenckes left office.<ref>Matthews, Dylan (July 20, 2016). [https://www.vox.com/2016/7/20/12233454/christie-trump-purge-federal-employees Donald Trump and Chris Christie are reportedly planning to purge the civil service]. ''Vox''. Retrieved November 25, 2021.</ref>

Considered a "reformer," Jenckes was an early advocate of civil service reform<ref name=papers>[http://memory.loc.gov/service/mss/eadxmlmss/eadpdfmss/2013/ms013048.pdf Thomas A. Jenckes Papers: A Finding Aid to the Collection in the Library of Congress]. ''Library of Congress''. Retrieved November 25, 2021.</ref> and known as "the father of civil service."<ref name=dojorigins/> When he introduced legislation pushing it, fierce opposition was met by [[Radical Republican]] colleague [[John A. Logan]] of [[Illinois]],<ref>Jones, John Pickett (1982). [https://books.google.com/books?id=IpkCCUxeyW8C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false John A. Logan: Stalwart Republican from Illinois], p. 21. ''Google Books''. Retrieved November 25, 2021.</ref> who was concerned with the plight of Southern blacks. The enactment of a [[civil service system]] to replace the traditional [[spoils system]] would prevent Republicans from utilizing patronage to benefit blacks, and it was later implemented via the [[Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act]] years after Jenckes left office.<ref>Matthews, Dylan (July 20, 2016). [https://www.vox.com/2016/7/20/12233454/christie-trump-purge-federal-employees Donald Trump and Chris Christie are reportedly planning to purge the civil service]. ''Vox''. Retrieved November 25, 2021.</ref>

Having prosecuted fraud implicated in the Credit Mobilier scandal, Jenckes' tenure was also marked by his revisions of bankruptcy law and involvement in cases related to Goodyear rubber, the Corliss steam engine, in addition to patents pertaining to refrigeration and ventilation.<ref name=papers/>

Having prosecuted fraud implicated in the Credit Mobilier scandal, Jenckes' tenure was also marked by his revisions of bankruptcy law and involvement in cases related to Goodyear rubber, the Corliss steam engine, in addition to patents pertaining to refrigeration and ventilation.<ref name=papers/>