Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1867-03-19

TIE EIGHT-HoUR QUKsTIoN-The receu;
law passed by the Illinois Legislature, es-
tablishlng the eight-hour system in that State
provides that on and after the first day of Nav
next .seight hours of labor. between the rising
and setting OF the sun, in all mechanical
trades. arts and employments, and other cases
OF labor and service by the day, except in
farm employments, shall constitute and be a
legal days work, where there is no speclal
contract or agreement to the contrary" Ger.
tain exceptions are, however, made by the
second section OF the act, which declares that
II sshall not apply to or in any way affect Ia
Dor or service by the year, month or week; nor
shall any person be prevented, by ANYTHING
herein contained, from working as many
hours over time, or extra hours, as be or she
may agree, and shall not in any sense be held
to apply TO farm labor" Illinois is the first
State that has adopted the eight-hour system;
but bill similar to the above has passed one
branch Of the Missouri Legislature, and the
discussion of the eIght-hour system has a large
place In the pending political campaign in
have questioned the candidates OF both parties
as to their opinions on the subject Itis an.
nounced from Rhode Island that the woolen
manufacturers ofthat State, who have recently
received a considerable amount of additional
protection by the passage Of the wool tariff and
the relief nom various internal duties, have
reduced the wages of their employees ten per
cent 1t is difficult to reconcile this with the
expressed desire to have the tariff raised as a
protection to the iaborsrs Of the country.
LIBEL SUIT IN IowA-Ten Thousand Damaoes
Agdrdea.-The Oskaloosa Heraldi saysa libel
suit was tried in the District Court at that place
last week, which resulted in the award of StO.-
OOS damages. Suit was broughtby Chas J Love
against Martha A. Ball and her In band for a
considerable sum of money, which Love
ciams TO have furnished Martha A. Garner
before her marriage with Bail, while he was
actlng In the capacity of agent for her In the
Col ecnon OF legacy bequeathed by her father
Sne denied the account and filed cross bill for
SioI0O damages, because of certain letters
winch had been circulated, purporting to have
9een written by a soldier of the 20th Ohio
volunteers, which charged her with being a
debauched woman, etc, etc, and which libel
ous letters Love was charged with writing
and circu ating. The testimony was long and
tedious. Experts in chirography compared
the handwriting in the hbelous letters with
Loves genuine letters, and gave their opin-
ions. The friendly relations Of the parties
were all carefully recounted. Alter two days
turned for Mrs. Ball for Sl0,OO0.
NEARLY FATAL MIsTAKE.-On Saturday
morning Mr.. @. q. Maybail, one of the editors
or the Rails county Record, hearing q noise in
room adjoining that in which he slept, rose
hastily from bed. and seizing revolver, Ptep.
ped quietly to the door OF the room, where he
saw what he conceived TO he q burglar, effect
ing his entrance through the window. With.
ont stopping TO consider-as any one would
not be likely to do under similar circumstan-
ces-he fired. A scream OF pam aud terror
quickly told him of the mistake he had iguo.
rantly made; he had shot his own wife. Mrs
Mayhall had arisen from the bed without
disturbing her husbsnd-eone into the vacant
room and raised the window, The wound
was slight Fortunately. st -. 80 -