As independent public accountants,  we hereby consent to the incoporation of our
report  dated March 30,  1999  included  in this Form 10-K,  into the  Company's
previously  filed  Registration  Statements  on Form S-3 (File  Nos.  333-67749,
333-50057,  333-39511  and  333-05101)  and Form S-8 (File  Nos.  333-22671  snf
333-21689).


Arthur Andersen LLP


/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP
New York, New York
April 9, 1999