




                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1



                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



As independent public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the use of our reports
and  to  all  references  to our  Firm  included  in or  made  a  part  of  this
Registration Statement.



                                                       /s/Arthur Andersen LLP
                                                       ----------------------
                                                       Arthur Andersen LLP



Baltimore, Maryland,
  October 7, 1997



