POWER OF ATTORNEY


        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned, hereby appoints
Joseph D'Alessandro, Paul B. Goucher, Christopher O. Petersen, Scott R.
Plummer and William F. Truscott, attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of
substitution and resubstitution, for in name and stead, to sign and file Forms
3, 4 and 5 (Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities, Statement
of Changes in Beneficial Ownership, and Annual Statement of Changes in
Beneficial Ownership of Securities promulgated under Section 16(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934), with respect to SELIGMAN LASALLE INTERNATIONAL
REAL ESTATE FUND, INC., TRI-CONTINENTAL CORPORATION AND SELIGMAN SELECT
MUNICIPAL FUND, each a Maryland Corporation, or further amendments thereto,
and any and all applications or other documents to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) pertaining thereto, including
but not limited to, such applications as may be necessary to file
electronically with the SEC, full power and authority to do and perform all acts
and things requisite and necessary to be done on the premises. This appointment
shall be valid for the sole purpose stated above and shall be in effect and
force, unless sooner revoked by me in writing.

        Executed on this 5th day of November 2008.





Patrick T. Bannigan