Why didn't the reforms made after president garfields assassination completely reduce corruption nationwide?

The reforms implemented after President Garfield's assassination, such as the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act, primarily focused on reducing patronage and establishing merit-based hiring in federal jobs. However, these measures did not address the deeply entrenched culture of corruption at state and local levels, where political machines and graft remained prevalent. Additionally, enforcement of the new standards was often weak, and many politicians resisted change, allowing corrupt practices to persist. Consequently, while the reforms marked a significant step forward, they were insufficient to eradicate corruption entirely across the nation.