EXHIBIT 23 Consent of Independent Public Accountants As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation of our report, dated February 4, 2002, included in this Form 10-K, into the Company's previously filed Registration Statement File Nos. 2-76922, 2-96982, 33-17136, 33-27227, 33-34952, 33-15515, 33-48832, 33-48840, 33-58746, 33-61038, 33-78424, 33-58887, 33-58231, 33-64753, 333-38251, 333-45679, 333-79411, 333-33644, 333-72340 and 333-72342. /s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP New York, New York March 19, 2002