ORIOLES FUND LAWMAKERS WHO HELPED THEM DURING STRIKE

     Orioles Owner Peter Angelos donated thousands of dollars to
four Maryland lawmakers instrumental in passing bills that would
have barred replacements from playing in state-owned Oriole Park
at Camden Yards, according to the CAPITAL NEWS SERVICE.  State
Senators John Pica, Norman Stone and Thomas Bromwell and Delegate
Gerald Curran all rejected notions that Angelos' donations, made
after the '94 elections, create a conflict of interest.  The bill
would have protected Angelos in any legal battle with other
owners for refusing to field replacement players.  The donations
from the team, Angelos' law firm and Angelos himself, range from
$2,000-4,500.  All four legislators sponsored the bill in some
way; Pica and Stone are associates in Angelos' law firm.  Deborah
Povich, of Common Cause Maryland, called the donations "clear
attempts to curry favor from legislators" (Peter Brush, CAPITAL
NEWS/WASHINGTON TIMES, 4/6).