EXHIBIT 24

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. does
hereby constitute and appoint Helge K. Lee, Michael D. Strohm and Daniel C.
Schulte, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him
and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and
authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary,
advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the
Form 10-K for the fiscal year foregoing, the powers granted include the power
and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the
part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or
documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by
said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
as of the date indicated below in his name.



                           /s/ David L. Boren

                           David L. Boren, Director
                           Date:  February 11, 1999






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. does
hereby constitute and appoint Helge K. Lee, Michael D. Strohm and Daniel C.
Schulte, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him
and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and
authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary,
advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the
Form 10-K for the fiscal year foregoing, the powers granted include the power
and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the
part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or
documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by
said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
as of the date indicated below in his name.



                           /s/ Joseph M. Farley

                           Joseph M. Farley, Director
                           Date:  February 5, 1999






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. does
hereby constitute and appoint Helge K. Lee, Michael D. Strohm and Daniel C.
Schulte, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him
and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and
authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary,
advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the
Form 10-K for the fiscal year foregoing, the powers granted include the power
and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the
part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or
documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by
said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
as of the date indicated below in his name.



                           /s/ Louis T. Hagopian

                           Louis T. Hagopian, Director
                           Date:  February 5, 1999






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. does
hereby constitute and appoint Helge K. Lee, Michael D. Strohm and Daniel C.
Schulte, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him
and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and
authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary,
advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the
Form 10-K for the fiscal year foregoing, the powers granted include the power
and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the
part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or
documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by
said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
as of the date indicated below in his name.



                           /s/ Joseph L. Lanier, Jr.

                           Joseph L. Lanier, Jr.
                           Date:  February 8, 1999






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. does
hereby constitute and appoint Helge K. Lee, Michael D. Strohm and Daniel C.
Schulte, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him
and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and
authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary,
advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the
Form 10-K for the fiscal year foregoing, the powers granted include the power
and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the
part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or
documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by
said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
as of the date indicated below in his name.



                           /s/ Harold T. McCormick

                           Harold T. McCormick, Director
                           Date:  February 5, 1999






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. does
hereby constitute and appoint Helge K. Lee, Michael D. Strohm and Daniel C.
Schulte, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him
and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and
authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary,
advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the
Form 10-K for the fiscal year foregoing, the powers granted include the power
and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the
part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or
documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by
said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
as of the date indicated below in his name.



                           /s/ James M. Raines

                           James M. Raines, Director
                           Date:  February 5, 1999






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. does
hereby constitute and appoint Helge K. Lee, Michael D. Strohm and Daniel C.
Schulte, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him
and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and
authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary,
advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the
Form 10-K for the fiscal year foregoing, the powers granted include the power
and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the
part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or
documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by
said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
as of the date indicated below in his name.



                           /s/ George J. Records, Sr.

                           George J. Records, Sr., Director
                           Date:  February 9, 1999






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. does
hereby constitute and appoint Helge K. Lee, Michael D. Strohm and Daniel C.
Schulte, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him
and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and
authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary,
advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the
Form 10-K for the fiscal year foregoing, the powers granted include the power
and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the
part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or
documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by
said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
as of the date indicated below in his name.



                           /s/ R.K. Richey

                           R. K. Richey, Director
                           Date:  March 10, 1999






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

         That the undersigned Director of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. does
hereby constitute and appoint Helge K. Lee, Michael D. Strohm and Daniel C.
Schulte, and each of them severally, his lawful attorneys and agents, for him
and in his name and in the capacity indicated below, with full power and
authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all
instruments which said attorneys and agents determine may be necessary,
advisable, or required to enable the said Corporation to comply with the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules, regulations, or
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the
Form 10-K for the fiscal year foregoing, the powers granted include the power
and authority to execute and file the Form 10-K, any and all amendments to the
part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K and any and all instruments or
documents submitted as a part of or in conjunction with the Form 10-K. The
undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms his signature as it may be signed by
said attorneys and all that said attorneys and agents shall do or cause to be
done by virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney
as of the date indicated below in his name.



                           /s/ William L. Rogers

                           William L. Rogers, Director
                           Date:  February 6, 1999