July 22, 1998

Profile of Arto Lindsay, little-known American singer/songwriter, musician and conceptual artist, who is one of most popular record producers in Brazil; photo (M)

Maurice Greene, defending world champion, surges to victory in 100-meter sprint at Goodwill Games, Uniondale, NY, defeating his training partner, Ato Boldon; Michael Johnson wins 400 meter race in 43.76 seconds, year's fastest 400; Jeff Hartwig sets US record in pole vault at 19 feet 8 1/2 inches; photos (M)

House, in sharp election-year conversion, approves money for National Endowment for Arts, long scourge of conservatives and prime target of Republican leaders; 253 to 173 vote virtually guarantees that arts agency will continue to receive $98 million it received this fiscal year, even though money is attached to more contentious bill financing Interior Dept; Senate has indicated support for arts money, and Pres Clinton has said he wants it; Republicans had provided themselves political cover by approving changes last year that they said would reduce their concerns about program; vote also reflects certain anti-New York sentiment; under changes, no state can receive more than 15 percent of $81 million that goes directly for grants; New York is only state that receives more than 15 percent limit (M)

At several points in ''The Saltmen of Tibet,'' Ulrike Koch's profoundly absorbing study of a small band of nomads trekking across the Tibetan high country with a caravan of 160 yaks, the camera draws back to observe from afar an annual pilgrimage that has been taking place for 2,000 years. The spectacle of the distant caravan almost imperceptibly inching its way across an arid, seemingly endless steppe rimmed with snow-capped mountains is such a primal image of human perseverance that it has the power to sweep away for a moment more sophisticated reflections on civilization and its discontents. The entire movie, in fact, could be described as a kind of spiritual palate cleanser because of the force with which it conveys a life reduced to its essentials but still vibrant with faith.

Johnson & Johnson agrees to buy DePuy Inc, successful maker of orthopedic devices, for $3.5 billion in cash; Roche Holding AG, which bought 84 percent of DePuy 14 months ago, will collect about $2.9 billion; Roche got DePuy shares as part of $10.2 billion purchase of Corange Ltd (M)