Phone Union Cuts Wage Demands In Half; Marshall Will Report to Truman, Address Nation Monday

WASHINGTON, April 25-Hopes for settling the cross-country telephone strike rose tonight as the union cut its pay boost demand in half from $12 to $6 a week and a separate settlement was reached for the State of Maryland.

Federal Conciliator Lucien F. Rye said the Maryland settlement-under which issues will be decided by a local board of arbitration-"may set a national pettern."

However, the strike's leader, J. A. Beirne commented: "It would be jumping to conclusions to say that this would be a pattern."

Daniel J. Tobin, head of the AFL teamsters, promised the strikers a check for $10,000 every two weeks that the walkout continues. He delivered the first check personally today.

He explained that the union is in a "sort of twilight zone" as it is retiring from the Federation as of April 30. He noted that other Federation unions have rejected the same offer that the Maryland workers accepted.