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                                                              Exhibit 99.(16)(b)

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

         The undersigned Trustees of Government Securities Trust, hereby
constitute, appoint and authorize Marguerite E.H. Morrison, Edward P. Macdonald,
Richard Kirk, Jonathan D. Shain, and Lori E. Bostrom as true and lawful agents
and attorneys-in-fact, to sign on his or her behalf in the capacities indicated,
any Registration Statement or amendment thereto (including post-effective
amendments), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. The undersigned do hereby give to said
agents and attorneys-in-fact full power and authority to act in these premises,
including, but not limited to, the power to appoint a substitute or substitutes
to act hereunder with the same power and authority as said agents and
attorneys-in-fact would have if personally acting. The undersigned do hereby
approve, ratify and confirm all that said agents and attorneys-in-fact, or any
substitute or substitutes, may do by virtue hereof.




/s/ Delayne Dedrick Gold                             /s/ Thomas T. Mooney
- ------------------------                             --------------------
Delayne Dedrick Gold                                 Thomas T. Mooney




Dated:  December 29, 2003