SELIGMAN COMMON STOCK FUND INC
DEFS14A, 1995-10-18
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<PAGE>
                           SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION 

             Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
                       Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.    )

          Filed by the Registrant [X]
          Filed by a Party other than the Registrant [ ]


          Check the appropriate box:

          [ ]  Preliminary Proxy Statement
          [ ]  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
               Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
          [X]  Definitive Proxy Statement
          [ ]  Definitive Additional Materials
          [ ]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or
               Section 240.14a-12

                         SELIGMAN COMMON STOCK FUND, INC.
          .................................................................
                   (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

          .................................................................
       (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)


          Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

          [ ]  $125 per Exchange Act Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii), 14a-6(i)(1),
               14a-6(i)(2) or Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
          [ ]  $500 per each party to the controversy pursuant to Exchange
               Act Rule 14a-6(i)(3).
          [ ]  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 
               14a-6(i)(4) and 0-11.

               1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction
          applies:
                    
          .................................................................

               2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction
          applies:
                    
          .................................................................

               3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
          computed   pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the
          amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
          determined):
                     
          .................................................................

               4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
                    
          .................................................................

               5)  Total fee paid:
                  
          .................................................................

          [X]  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
          [ ]  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
               Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for
               which the offsetting fee was paid previously.  Identify the
               previous filing by registration statement number, or the
               Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

               1)   Amount Previously Paid:
                     
          .................................................................

               2)   Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

          .................................................................

               3)   Filing Party:

          .................................................................

               4)   Date Filed:

          .................................................................


<PAGE>
                        SELIGMAN COMMON STOCK FUND, INC.
                   100 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017
     Toll-Free Telephone: (800) 221-2450 -- All continental United States
  For questions or comments about the Proposals contained herein, please call
       Morrow & Co., Inc., the Fund's proxy solicitor, at (800) 566-9058.
                   NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                        TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 12, 1995
To the Shareholders:
     A  Special Meeting of Shareholders (the 'Meeting') of Seligman Common Stock
Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the 'Fund'), will be held at the Grand Hyatt
Hotel, 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue, New York, New York on December 12, 1995
at 9:00 A.M., for the following purposes:
     (1) To elect thirteen Directors;
     (2) To act on a proposal to ratify  the selection of Deloitte & Touche  LLP
         as auditors of the Fund for 1995;
     (3) To  approve or disapprove amendments to the Management Agreement, dated
         December 29,  1988  between  the  Fund  and J.  &  W.  Seligman  &  Co.
         Incorporated to increase the management fee payable by the Fund;
     (4) To approve or disapprove amendments to the Subadvisory Agreement, dated
         June  1, 1994 between J. & W.  Seligman & Co. Incorporated and Seligman
         Henderson Co.  to increase  the  subadvisory fee  payable  by J.  &  W.
         Seligman & Co. Incorporated;
     (5) To  act on a proposal to amend the Fund's fundamental investment policy
         with respect to borrowing to increase  the amount that may be  borrowed
         to 15% of the market value of the Fund's total assets;
     (6) To  act on a proposal to amend the Fund's fundamental investment policy
         regarding mortgaging or pledging of its assets;
     (7) To act on a proposal to amend the Fund's fundamental investment  policy
         with respect to investment in real estate investment trusts; and
     (8) To transact such other business as may lawfully come before the Meeting
         or any adjournment thereof;
all as set forth in the Proxy Statement accompanying this Notice.
     The close of business on October 10, 1995 has been fixed as the record date
for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the
Meeting or any adjournment thereof.
                                             By order of the Board of Directors,
                                                              Secretary
   
Dated: New York, New York, October 18, 1995
    
                               ------------------
 
                             YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
                       NO MATTER HOW MANY SHARES YOU OWN 
 
 PLEASE  INDICATE YOUR VOTING  INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD, DATE AND
     SIGN IT, AND RETURN IT IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED, WHICH IS ADDRESSED FOR 
         YOUR CONVENIENCE AND NEEDS NO  POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED 
             STATES. IN ORDER  TO  AVOID THE   ADDITIONAL  EXPENSE OF 
               FURTHER  SOLICITATION,  WE  ASK  YOUR COOPERATION IN 
                  MAILING  YOUR  PROXY  PROMPTLY.   A  PROXY  WILL 
                     NOT BE REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION TO THE MEETING.

<PAGE>
   
                                                                October 18, 1995
    
 
                        SELIGMAN COMMON STOCK FUND, INC.
                   100 PARK AVENUE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                                    FOR THE
        SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON DECEMBER 12, 1995
 
     This   Proxy  Statement  is  furnished  to   you  in  connection  with  the
solicitation of Proxies by the Board of Directors of Seligman Common Stock Fund,
Inc. (the  'Fund')  to be  used  at the  Special  Meeting of  Shareholders  (the
'Meeting')  to  be held  at the  Grand  Hyatt Hotel,  42nd Street  and Lexington
Avenue, New York, New York on December 12, 1995.
 
     If the accompanying form of Proxy is executed properly and returned, shares
represented by it will be voted at  the Meeting. If you give instructions,  your
shares  will  be voted  in accordance  with  your instructions.  If you  give no
instructions and return your signed Proxy, your shares will be voted (i) for the
election of thirteen Directors,  (ii) for the ratification  of the selection  of
auditors,  (iii)  for the  approval of  amendments  to the  Management Agreement
between the Fund  and J. &  W. Seligman  & Co. Incorporated  (the 'Manager')  to
increase  the  management fee  payable by  the  Fund, (iv)  for the  approval of
amendments to  the  Subadvisory  Agreement  between  the  Manager  and  Seligman
Henderson  Co. to increase the  subadvisory fee payable by  the Manager, (v) for
the amendment  of  the Fund's  fundamental  investment policy  with  respect  to
borrowing to increase the amount that may be borrowed to 15% of the market value
of  the Fund's total  assets, (vi) for  the amendment of  the Fund's fundamental
investment policy regarding mortgaging or pledging of its assets, and (vii)  for
the  amendment of the Fund's  fundamental investment policy regarding investment
in real estate investment trusts, and,  at the discretion of the Proxy  holders,
on  any  other matter  that may  properly have  come before  the Meeting  or any
adjournment thereof. You may revoke your Proxy or change it by written notice to
the Fund (Attention:  the Secretary) or  by notice  at the Meeting  at any  time
prior to the time it is voted.
 
   
     The close of business on October 10, 1995 has been fixed as the record date
for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the
Meeting  or  any adjournment  thereof. On  that date,  the Fund  had outstanding
41,495,835 shares  of Class  A capital  stock and  2,669,155 shares  of Class  D
capital stock, each share being entitled to one vote. For all matters on which a
vote  of a  majority of the  Fund's shares  outstanding and entitled  to vote is
required, an abstention or broker non-vote will  have the same effect as a  vote
against the
    
 
                                       2
 
<PAGE>
proposal.  For all matters  on which the  affirmative vote of  a majority of the
votes cast  at a  meeting is  required and  for the  election of  Directors,  an
abstention or broker non-vote will not be considered a vote cast.
 
     The  Fund's  investment adviser  is J.  & W.  Seligman &  Co. Incorporated.
Subadvisory services  are provided  by  Seligman Henderson  Co. and  the  Fund's
shareholder  service  agent  is  Seligman  Data  Corp.  The  Fund's  distributor
(principal underwriter) is Seligman Financial Services, Inc. The address of each
of these entities is 100  Park Avenue, New York, New  York 10017. The Fund  will
furnish, without charge, copies of its most recent annual report and semi-annual
report to any shareholder upon request to Seligman Data Corp. at 1-800-221-2450.
Questions  or comments relating to any of  the proposals set forth herein may be
directed to Morrow & Co., Inc., the Fund's proxy solicitor, at 1-800-566-9058.
 
   
     It is expected that the Notice of Special Meeting, Proxy Statement and form
of Proxy will first be mailed to shareholders on or about October 18, 1995.
    
 
                           A. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.
                                  (Proposal 1)
 
     The Board is  presently comprised  of thirteen Directors.  At the  Meeting,
these  Directors will be  nominated for election  to hold office  until the next
meeting at  which Director  elections are  held or  until their  successors  are
elected and qualify.
 
     It  is the intention of the persons named in the accompanying form of Proxy
to vote for  the election of  Fred E. Brown,  General John R.  Galvin, Alice  S.
Ilchman,  Frank A. McPherson, John E. Merow, Betsy S. Michel, William C. Morris,
James C. Pitney, James Q. Riordan, Ronald T. Schroeder, Robert L. Shafer,  James
N.  Whitson and Brian T.  Zino, all of whom are  presently members of the Board.
Each of the foregoing  individuals has consented  to be a  nominee. Each of  the
nominees  previously has been elected by the shareholders, with the exception of
General Galvin and Mr. McPherson who were  elected by the Board of Directors  on
May 18, 1995.
 
     Each  nominee has agreed to serve if elected. There is no reason to believe
that any of the nominees will become  unavailable for election as a Director  of
the Fund, but if that should occur before the Meeting, Proxies will be voted for
the persons the Board of Directors recommends.
 
     The  background  of  General  Galvin  and  Mr.  McPherson  and  information
regarding the other Directors of the Fund appears below.
 
                                       3
 
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION> 
                                 PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND OTHER INFORMATION
                                                                                      SHARES OF CAPITAL
                                 THE PERSONS DESIGNATED BY ASTERISK (*) ARE           STOCK BENEFICIALLY
                                  'INTERESTED PERSONS' OF THE FUND (AS THAT           OWNED, DIRECTLY OR
NAME, PERIOD(S) SERVED AS     TERM IS DEFINED IN THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF        INDIRECTLY, AS OF
   DIRECTOR AND (AGE)      1940, AS AMENDED) BECAUSE OF THEIR STATED ASSOCIATIONS.    SEPTEMBER 26, 1995
- ------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------   -------------------
<S>                       <C>                                                        <C>
     Fred E. Brown*       DIRECTOR OR TRUSTEE, VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, NEW YORK, NY.         54,899
      1959 to Date        Mr. Brown  is  a  Director  or Trustee  of  each  of  the
          (82)            Seligman  Group investment companies;`D' Director of, and
                          Consultant to,  J.  &  W. Seligman  &  Co.  Incorporated;
        [Photo]           Director   of  Seligman  Financial   Services,  Inc.  and
                          Seligman Services, Inc.; Trustee of Lake Placid Education
                          Foundation, Lake Placid Center  for the Arts and  Trudeau
                          Institute,  Inc.; formerly, Director of  J. & W. Seligman
                          Trust Company and Seligman Securities, Inc.
 
     John R. Galvin       DEAN OF THE FLETCHER SCHOOL OF LAW AND DIPLOMACY AT TUFTS         - 0 -
      May 18, 1995        UNIVERSITY, MEDFORD, MA.  General Galvin  is Director  or
        to Date           Trustee   of  each  of   the  Seligman  Group  investment
          (66)            companies;`D'  Chairman  of   the  American  Council   on
                          Germany;   a   Governor  of   the  Center   for  Creative
        [Photo]           Leadership; Director of USLIFE, Committee on U.S. - China
                          Relations, National Defense University and the  Institute
                          for  Defense  Analysis;  and Consultant  of  Thomson CSF.
                          Formerly,   Ambassador,   U.S.   State   Department; Dis-
                          tinguished  Policy  Analyst  at Ohio State University and
                          Olin Distinguished Professor  of National Security  Stud-
                          ies  at the  United States  Military Academy.  From June,
                          1987 to June, 1992, he was the Supreme Allied  Commander,
                          Europe and the Commander-in-Chief, United States European
                          Command.
</TABLE>
 
                                       4
 
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION> 
                                 PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND OTHER INFORMATION
                                                                                      SHARES OF CAPITAL
                                 THE PERSONS DESIGNATED BY ASTERISK (*) ARE           STOCK BENEFICIALLY
                                  'INTERESTED PERSONS' OF THE FUND (AS THAT           OWNED, DIRECTLY OR
NAME, PERIOD(S) SERVED AS     TERM IS DEFINED IN THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF        INDIRECTLY, AS OF
   DIRECTOR AND (AGE)      1940, AS AMENDED) BECAUSE OF THEIR STATED ASSOCIATIONS.    SEPTEMBER 26, 1995
- ------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------   -------------------
<S>                       <C>                                                        <C>
 
    Alice S. Ilchman      PRESIDENT,  SARAH LAWRENCE  COLLEGE, BRONXVILLE,  NY. Dr.         8,874
      1991 to Date        Ilchman is a Director or Trustee of each of the  Seligman
          (60)            Group    investment   companies;`D'   Chairman   of   The
                          Rockefeller Foundation; Director of NYNEX (formerly,  New
        [Photo]           York  Telephone Company)  and The  Committee for Economic
                          Development; formerly, Trustee  of The Markle  Foundation
                          and Director of International Research & Exchange Board.
 
   Frank A. McPherson     CHAIRMAN  OF  THE  BOARD  AND  CHIEF  EXECUTIVE  OFFICER,         - 0 -
      May 18, 1995        KERR-MCGEE CORPORATION, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK. Mr.  McPherson
        to Date           is  a Director or  Trustee of each  of the Seligman Group
          (62)            investment  companies;`D'   Director  of   Kimberly-Clark
                          Corporation,  Bank of Oklahoma  Holding Company, American
        [Photo]           Petroleum Institute, Oklahoma  City Chamber of  Commerce,
                          Baptist  Medical Center,  Oklahoma Chapter  of the Nature
                          Conservancy, Oklahoma  Medical  Research  Foundation  and
                          United  Way  Advisory  Board; Chairman  of  Oklahoma City
                          Public Schools Foundation; and  a Member of The  Business
                          Roundtable and National Petroleum Council.
</TABLE>
 
                                       5
 
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION> 
                                 PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND OTHER INFORMATION
                                                                                      SHARES OF CAPITAL
                                 THE PERSONS DESIGNATED BY ASTERISK (*) ARE           STOCK BENEFICIALLY
                                  'INTERESTED PERSONS' OF THE FUND (AS THAT           OWNED, DIRECTLY OR
NAME, PERIOD(S) SERVED AS     TERM IS DEFINED IN THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF        INDIRECTLY, AS OF
   DIRECTOR AND (AGE)      1940, AS AMENDED) BECAUSE OF THEIR STATED ASSOCIATIONS.    SEPTEMBER 26, 1995
- ------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------   -------------------
<S>                       <C>                                                        <C>
     John E. Merow*       PARTNER, SULLIVAN & CROMWELL, LAW FIRM, NEW YORK, NY. Mr.         75,732
      1970 to Date        Merow  is a Director  or Trustee of  each of the Seligman
          (65)            Group investment companies,`D'  Municipal Art Society  of
                          New York, Commonwealth Aluminum Corporation, U.S. Council
        [Photo]           for   International  Business  and  U.S.  -  New  Zealand
                          Council; Member  of the  American Law  Institute and  the
                          Council  on Foreign  Relations; Chairman  of the American
                          Australian  Association;  and  Member  of  the  Board  of
                          Governors  of  Foreign  Policy Association  and  New York
                          Hospital.
 
    Betsy S. Michel       ATTORNEY, GLADSTONE,  NJ. Mrs.  Michel is  a Director  or         42,085
      1984 to Date        Trustee   of  each  of   the  Seligman  Group  investment
          (53)            companies`D' and The National Association of  Independent
                          Schools  (Washington, DC);  and Chairman of  the Board of
        [Photo]           Trustees of St. George's School (Newport, RI).
</TABLE>
 
                                       6
 
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION> 
                                 PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND OTHER INFORMATION
                                                                                      SHARES OF CAPITAL
                                 THE PERSONS DESIGNATED BY ASTERISK (*) ARE           STOCK BENEFICIALLY
                                  'INTERESTED PERSONS' OF THE FUND (AS THAT           OWNED, DIRECTLY OR
NAME, PERIOD(S) SERVED AS     TERM IS DEFINED IN THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF        INDIRECTLY, AS OF
   DIRECTOR AND (AGE)      1940, AS AMENDED) BECAUSE OF THEIR STATED ASSOCIATIONS.    SEPTEMBER 26, 1995
- ------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------   -------------------
<S>                       <C>                                                        <C>
   William C. Morris*     CHAIRMAN  AND  PRESIDENT  OF  J.  &  W.  SELIGMAN  &  CO.         5,374
      1988 to Date        INCORPORATED,  NEW YORK,  NY. Mr. Morris  is Chairman and
          (57)            Chief Executive  Officer of  each of  the Seligman  Group
                          investment  companies;`D' Chairman  of Seligman Financial
        [Photo]           Services,  Inc.,  Seligman   Services,  Inc.  and   Carbo
                          Ceramics  Inc.; Member of  the Board of  Governors of the
                          Investment Company  Institute;  and  Director  of  Daniel
                          Industries,  Inc.,  Kerr-McGee  Corporation  and Seligman
                          Data Corp.;  formerly, Chairman  of Seligman  Securities,
                          Inc. and J. & W. Seligman Trust Company.
 
    James C. Pitney       PARTNER,   PITNEY,  HARDIN,  KIPP   &  SZUCH,  LAW  FIRM,         1,662
      1971 to Date        MORRISTOWN, NJ. Mr.  Pitney is a  Director or Trustee  of
          (69)            each  of the  Seligman Group  investment companies`D' and
                          Public Service Enterprise Group.
        [Photo]
 
    James Q. Riordan      DIRECTOR, VARIOUS CORPORATIONS,  STUART, FL. Mr.  Riordan          452
      1991 to Date        is  a Director or  Trustee of each  of the Seligman Group
          (68)            investment  companies,`D'   The  Brooklyn   Museum,   The
                          Brooklyn  Union Gas  Company, The  Committee for Economic
        [Photo]           Development, Dow Jones & Co., Inc. and Public  Broadcast-
                          ing  Service; formerly, Co-Chairman of the Policy Council
                          of The Tax Foundation; Director and President of  Bekaert
                          Corporation;  and Director of Tesoro Petroleum Companies,
                          Inc.
</TABLE>
 
                                       7
 
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION> 
                                 PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND OTHER INFORMATION
                                                                                      SHARES OF CAPITAL
                                 THE PERSONS DESIGNATED BY ASTERISK (*) ARE           STOCK BENEFICIALLY
                                  'INTERESTED PERSONS' OF THE FUND (AS THAT           OWNED, DIRECTLY OR
NAME, PERIOD(S) SERVED AS     TERM IS DEFINED IN THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF        INDIRECTLY, AS OF
   DIRECTOR AND (AGE)      1940, AS AMENDED) BECAUSE OF THEIR STATED ASSOCIATIONS.    SEPTEMBER 26, 1995
- ------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------   -------------------
<S>                       <C>                                                        <C>
  Ronald T. Schroeder*    DIRECTOR, MANAGING DIRECTOR AND CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER,         4,111
      1984 to Date        INSTITUTIONAL OF J. & W. SELIGMAN & CO. INCORPORATED, NEW
          (47)            YORK, NY. Mr. Schroeder is a Director or Trustee of  each
                          of   the  Seligman  Group   investment  companies`D'  and
        [Photo]           Director of Seligman  Financial Services, Inc.,  Seligman
                          Services,  Inc.  and  Seligman  Henderson  Co.; formerly,
                          President  of  each  of  the  Seligman  Group  investment
                          companies   with  the   exception  of   Seligman  Quality
                          Municipal Fund, Inc. and Seligman Select Municipal  Fund,
                          Inc.  and  Director of  J. &  W. Seligman  Trust Company,
                          Seligman Data Corp. and Seligman Securities, Inc.
 
    Robert L. Shafer      VICE PRESIDENT, PFIZER, INC., NEW YORK, NY. Mr. Shafer is         1,089
      1980 to Date        a Director  or  Trustee of  each  of the  Seligman  Group
          (63)            investment companies`D' and USLIFE Corporation. 

        [Photo]
</TABLE>
 
                                       8
 
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION> 
                                 PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND OTHER INFORMATION
                                                                                      SHARES OF CAPITAL
                                 THE PERSONS DESIGNATED BY ASTERISK (*) ARE           STOCK BENEFICIALLY
                                  'INTERESTED PERSONS' OF THE FUND (AS THAT           OWNED, DIRECTLY OR
NAME, PERIOD(S) SERVED AS     TERM IS DEFINED IN THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF        INDIRECTLY, AS OF
   DIRECTOR AND (AGE)      1940, AS AMENDED) BECAUSE OF THEIR STATED ASSOCIATIONS.    SEPTEMBER 26, 1995
- ------------------------  --------------------------------------------------------   -------------------
<S>                       <C>                                                        <C>
 
    James N. Whitson      EXECUTIVE  VICE  PRESIDENT, CHIEF  OPERATING  OFFICER AND         1,111
      1993 to Date        DIRECTOR, SAMMONS  ENTERPRISES,  INC.,  DALLAS,  TX.  Mr.
          (60)            Whitson  is a Director or Trustee of each of the Seligman
                          Group investment companies,`D'  Red Man  Pipe and  Supply
        [Photo]           Company and C-SPAN.
 
     Brian T. Zino*       DIRECTOR  AND MANAGING DIRECTOR,  J. & W.  SELIGMAN & CO.         3,402
      1993 to Date        INCORPORATED, NEW YORK,  NY. Mr.  Zino is  a Director  or
          (43)            Trustee  and  President  of each  of  the  Seligman Group
                          investment  companies  with  the  exception  of  Seligman
        [Photo]           Quality   Municipal  Fund,   Inc.  and   Seligman  Select
                          Municipal Fund, Inc.;`D' Chairman of Seligman Data Corp.;
                          Director  of  Seligman  Quality  Municipal  Fund,   Inc.,
                          Seligman  Select Municipal Fund, Inc., Seligman Financial
                          Services, Inc. and  Seligman Services,  Inc.; and  Senior
                          Vice  President  of  Seligman  Henderson  Co.;  formerly,
                          Director and  Secretary of  Chuo Trust  -- JWS  Advisors,
                          Inc.  and Director of J. &  W. Seligman Trust Company and
                          Seligman Securities, Inc.
</TABLE>
 
`D' The Seligman Group of  investment companies consists  of the Fund,  Seligman
    Capital   Fund,  Inc.,   Seligman  Cash  Management   Fund,  Inc.,  Seligman
    Communications and  Information Fund,  Inc., Seligman  Frontier Fund,  Inc.,
    Seligman  Growth Fund,  Inc., Seligman  Henderson Global  Fund Series, Inc.,
    Seligman High Income Fund Series,  Seligman Income Fund, Inc., Seligman  New
    Jersey  Tax-Exempt Fund, Inc., Seligman Pennsylvania Tax-Exempt Fund Series,
    Seligman Portfolios, Inc., Seligman  Quality Municipal Fund, Inc.,  Seligman
    Select Municipal Fund, Inc., Seligman Tax-Exempt Fund Series, Inc., Seligman
    Tax-Exempt Series Trust and Tri-Continental Corporation.
 
                                       9
 
<PAGE>
     Unless otherwise indicated below, Directors have sole voting and investment
power  with respect to the shares shown. As of September 26, 1995, all Directors
and officers of the Fund as a  group owned beneficially 225,035 shares, or  .51%
of the Fund's capital stock.
 
     Dr.  Ilchman disclaims  beneficial ownership  of 2,777  shares held  in her
husband's name. Mrs. Michel disclaims beneficial ownership of 40,244 shares held
in trust for her  children. Mr. Morris disclaims  beneficial ownership of  3,960
shares held in trust for his children. Mr. Shafer disclaims beneficial ownership
of 531 shares held in his wife's name.
 
     As of September 30, 1995, no persons owned 5% or more of the Fund's capital
stock then outstanding.
 
     The  Board of Directors met six  times during 1994. The standing committees
of the Board include the Board Operations Committee, the Audit Committee and the
Director  Nominating  Committee.  These  Committees  are  comprised  solely   of
Directors  who are not 'interested persons' of  the Fund as that term is defined
in the Investment Company Act of 1940,  as amended (the '1940 Act'). The  duties
of these Committees are described below.
 
     Board  Operations  Committee.  This Committee  has  authority  generally to
direct the operations of the Board, including the nomination of members of other
Board Committees, and the selection of legal counsel for the Fund. The Committee
met four  times in  1994. This  Committee comprises  all Directors  who are  not
'interested persons' of the Fund.
 
     Audit   Committee.  This   Committee  recommends   the  independent  public
accountants for selection  as auditors by  the Board annually.  In addition,  it
reviews,  with the  auditors and  such other persons  as it  determines, (a) the
scope of audit, (b) accounting and financial internal controls, (c) quality  and
adequacy  of the accounting staff and (d) reports of the auditors. The Committee
comments to  the Board  when warranted  and at  least annually.  It is  directly
available  to the auditors and  officers of the Fund  for consultation on audit,
accounting and  related financial  matters.  The Committee  met twice  in  1994.
Members  of this Committee are Messrs. Whitson (Chairman) and McPherson, General
Galvin and Mrs. Michel.
 
     Director Nominating  Committee.  This  Committee recommends  to  the  Board
persons  to  be  nominated  for  election as  Directors  by  you  and  the other
shareholders and selects and proposes nominees for election by the Board between
shareholder meetings. The Committee will consider suggestions from  shareholders
submitted  in writing to the  Secretary of the Fund.  The Committee met twice in
1994. Members  of this  Committee  are Messrs.  Pitney (Chairman),  Riordan  and
Shafer and Dr. Ilchman.
 
                                       10
 
<PAGE>
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE FUND
 
     Information  with respect to executive  officers, other than Messrs. Morris
and Zino, is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 POSITION WITH FUND AND
           NAME                 AGE                   PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION DURING PAST FIVE YEARS
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                          <C>        <C>
Charles C. Smith, Jr.           39      VICE PRESIDENT AND PORTFOLIO  MANAGER OF THE  FUND since December  1991.
                                        Mr.  Smith  is also  Vice President  and  Portfolio Manager  of Seligman
                                        Income Fund,  Inc. and  Tri-Continental Corporation;  Vice President  of
                                        Seligman  Portfolios, Inc. and Portfolio  Manager of its Seligman Common
                                        Stock Portfolio and Seligman Income Portfolio; and Managing Director  of
                                        the   Manager  (formerly,  Senior   Vice  President,  Senior  Investment
                                        Officer).
Lawrence P. Vogel               39      VICE PRESIDENT (FORMERLY, TREASURER) OF THE FUND since January 1992. Mr.
                                        Vogel is  also Vice  President of  the other  Seligman Group  investment
                                        companies;  Senior  Vice  President, Finance  of  the  Manager, Seligman
                                        Financial Services, Inc. and Seligman Data Corp. (formerly,  Treasurer);
                                        Vice  President  of  Seligman Services,  Inc.;  and  Treasurer, Seligman
                                        Henderson Co.; formerly, an Audit  Senior Manager, Price Waterhouse  and
                                        Senior  Vice President, Finance of Seligman Securities, Inc. and J. & W.
                                        Seligman Trust Company.
Frank J. Nasta                  31      SECRETARY OF THE FUND since March  1994. Mr. Nasta is also Secretary  of
                                        the  Manager, the  other Seligman  Group investment  companies, Seligman
                                        Data Corp., Seligman Financial  Services, Inc., Seligman Services,  Inc.
                                        and Seligman Henderson Co. and Vice President, Law and Regulation of the
                                        Manager;  formerly,  Secretary,  J.  & W.  Seligman  Trust  Company, and
                                        attorney at the law firm of Seward & Kissel.
Thomas G. Rose                  37      TREASURER OF THE FUND since November 1992. Mr. Rose is also Treasurer of
                                        the other Seligman Group investment  companies and Seligman Data  Corp.;
                                        formerly, Treasurer, American Investors Advisors, Inc.
</TABLE>
 
     All  officers  are elected  annually  by the  Board  and serve  until their
successors are elected and qualify or their earlier resignation. The address  of
each of the foregoing officers is 100 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017.
 
                                       11
 
<PAGE>
REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
     Directors  of  the  Fund  who  are not  employees  of  the  Manager  or its
affiliates each  receive from  the Fund  retainer fees  of $3,571  per year.  In
addition,  such Directors are paid a total of  $1,000 for each day on which they
attend Board and/or  Committee meetings,  which is paid  proportionately by  the
Fund  and the other Seligman Group investment companies meeting on the same day.
The Directors are also reimbursed for the expenses of attending meetings.
 
     Directors' attendance, retainer and/or committee fees paid to each Director
for the year ended December 31, 1994 were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 AGGREGATE       PENSION OR RETIREMENT     TOTAL COMPENSATION
                                                COMPENSATION      BENEFITS ACCRUED AS        FROM FUND AND
NAME                                             FROM FUND       PART OF FUND EXPENSES       FUND COMPLEX*
- --------------------------------------          ------------     ----------------------    ------------------
<S>                                             <C>              <C>                       <C>
Alice S. Ilchman                                  $3,911.04              - 0 -                   $67,000
John E. Merow                                      3,875.32**            - 0 -                    66,000**
Betsy S. Michel                                    3,875.32              - 0 -                    66,000
James C. Pitney                                    3,911.04              - 0 -                    67,000
James Q. Riordan                                   3,875.32              - 0 -                    66,000
Robert L. Shafer                                   3,875.32              - 0 -                    66,000
James N. Whitson                                   3,875.32**            - 0 -                    66,000**
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------------
 
 * There are 16 other investment companies in the Seligman Group.
 
** Messrs. Merow and Whitson have elected to defer receiving their fees from the
   Fund. The total amounts of deferred compensation (including interest) payable
   to Messrs. Merow and Whitson as of December 31, 1994 were $69,927 and $7,013,
   respectively. Mr. Pitney had deferred receiving his fee and has owing to  him
   deferred compensation as of December 31, 1994 of $68,834, including interest.
   Mr. Pitney no longer defers his current compensation.
 
     No  compensation is paid by  the Fund to Directors  or officers of the Fund
who are employees  of, or consultants  to, the Manager.  General Galvin and  Mr.
McPherson became Directors on May 18, 1995.
 
     The  affirmative vote of  a plurality of  the votes cast  at the meeting is
required to approve the election of the proposed Directors.
 
   
YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT THE  SHAREHOLDERS  VOTE  FOR
         THE ELECTION OF EACH OF THE FOREGOING NOMINEES TO SERVE AS 
                            DIRECTOR OF THE FUND.
    
 
                                       12

<PAGE>
                   B. RATIFICATION OF SELECTION OF AUDITORS.
                                  (Proposal 2)
 
     In accordance with the requirements of the 1940 Act, the Board of Directors
is  required to  select independent public  accountants as auditors  of the Fund
each year. If a shareholders' meeting is held, the Board's selection is  subject
to ratification or rejection by shareholders.
 
     The  Audit Committee  of the  Board of  Directors has  recommended, and the
Board  of  Directors,  including  a  majority  of  those  members  who  are  not
'interested  persons' of  the Fund  (as defined in  the 1940  Act), has selected
Deloitte & Touche LLP as auditors of the  Fund for 1995. The firm of Deloitte  &
Touche  LLP  has  extensive  experience  in  investment  company  accounting and
auditing. It is expected that a representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP will  be
present  at the Meeting  and will have  the opportunity to  make a statement and
respond to questions.
 
     The affirmative vote  of a majority  of the  votes cast at  the meeting  is
required to ratify the selection of auditors.
 
   
                 YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
                         RATIFICATION OF THIS PROPOSAL.
    
 
             C. APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
              TO INCREASE THE MANAGEMENT FEE PAYABLE BY THE FUND.
                                  (Proposal 3)
 
GENERAL
 
     The  Board of Directors  of the Fund is  proposing for shareholder approval
amendments to the  Management Agreement between  the Fund and  the Manager,  the
effect  of which would be to increase the  management fee payable by the Fund to
the Manager.  Shareholders  are  also  being asked  to  approve  the  Management
Agreement  as so amended.  The factors considered  by the Board  of Directors in
determining the  reasonableness  and fairness  of  the proposed  management  fee
increase  are  described  below  under  'Factors  Considered  by  the  Board  of
Directors'.  A  copy  of  the  Management  Agreement  reflecting  the   proposed
amendments is set forth as Exhibit A to this Proxy Statement.
 
     The  Manager manages the  Fund under a  Management Agreement dated December
29, 1988 as  amended April 10,  1991 (the 'Management  Agreement'). The  Manager
serves  as manager  for 16 other  investment companies which,  together with the
Fund, comprise the Seligman Group. The
 
                                       13
 
<PAGE>
   
16 other companies  are Seligman  Capital Fund, Inc.,  Seligman Cash  Management
Fund,  Inc.,  Seligman  Communications  and  Information  Fund,  Inc.,  Seligman
Frontier Fund, Inc., Seligman Growth Fund, Inc., Seligman Henderson Global  Fund
Series,  Inc., Seligman  High Income  Fund Series,  Seligman Income  Fund, Inc.,
Seligman New Jersey Tax-Exempt Fund, Inc., Seligman Pennsylvania Tax-Exempt Fund
Series, Seligman  Portfolios,  Inc.,  Seligman  Quality  Municipal  Fund,  Inc.,
Seligman  Select Municipal  Fund, Inc.,  Seligman Tax-Exempt  Fund Series, Inc.,
Seligman Tax-Exempt  Series  Trust  and  Tri-Continental  Corporation.  A  table
setting  forth  the net  assets  of other  investment  companies managed  by the
Manager which have investment objectives similar to the Fund, and the management
fee rate  paid  by such  companies,  is attached  as  Exhibit B  to  this  Proxy
Statement. The aggregate net asset value of the Seligman Group was approximately
$11  billion  at  September  30,  1995.  The  Manager  also  provides investment
management or advice to institutional accounts having a September 30, 1995 value
of approximately $3.5 billion.
    
 
     The management fee payable  by the Fund  has not been  changed by the  Fund
since  1991,  when an  increase in  the  management fee  rate payable  under the
Management Agreement  and  a change  in  the Fee  Base  (as defined  below)  was
approved  by shareholders. The Management Agreement was last submitted to a vote
of  the  shareholders  on  April  10,  1991  in  connection  with  this  change.
Continuance of the Management Agreement in its present form has been approved by
the Board of Directors each year since 1991, most recently on November 17, 1994.
On  May  19, 1994,  shareholders of  the Fund  approved a  Subadvisory Agreement
between the  Manager and  Seligman  Henderson Co.  (the 'Subadviser'),  a  joint
venture  between the  Manager and Henderson  International, Inc.  Fees under the
Subadvisory Agreement  are paid  by the  Manager to  the Subadviser  and do  not
affect  the fees payable  by the Fund  under the Management  Agreement. The fees
payable under the Subadvisory Agreement are  also proposed to be increased  (see
Proposal 4 in this Proxy Statement).
 
     The  Manager's proposal to increase the management  fee as set forth in the
proposed amendments was  considered at meetings  of the Board  of Directors,  at
which  a majority of the Directors who  are not 'interested persons' (as defined
in the 1940 Act)  of the Fund or  the Manager was present,  held on July 20  and
September  21, 1995, and at meetings of  a subcommittee of Directors who are not
interested persons on August 29 and September  15, 1995 and at a meeting of  the
Board  Operations  Committee  of  the  Fund held  on  September  21,  1995. Such
consideration was  based  upon  financial,  statistical  and  other  information
supplied  to the Directors by the Manager.  On September 21, 1995, the Directors
unanimously concluded that the proposed  amendments to the Management  Agreement
were fair and reasonable and justified by business considerations and determined
to  submit  the  Management  Agreement  as  amended  to  shareholders  for their
approval.
 
                                       14
 
<PAGE>
TERMS OF THE MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
 
     Under the Management Agreement, the Manager, at its expense and subject  to
the  control of the  Board of Directors  and in accordance  with the objectives,
policies and principles of the Fund set forth in the Fund's Prospectus,  manages
the affairs of the Fund. In this regard, it is the responsibility of the Manager
to   continuously  provide  the  Fund   with  investment  management,  including
investment research, advice and supervision, determine which securities shall be
purchased or sold by the Fund, make purchases and sales of securities on  behalf
of the Fund and determine how any rights of the Fund shall be exercised. As part
of these services, the Manager provides the Fund with such office space together
with  bookkeeping,  accounting,  internal  legal,  clerical  and  administrative
services and  such  executive and  other  personnel  as are  necessary  for  the
operations  of the Fund. The  Manager also manages the  affairs of Seligman Data
Corp.  ('Seligman  Data'),  which  performs,  at  cost,  certain   recordkeeping
functions for the Fund, maintains the records of shareholder investment accounts
and  furnishes data processing, dividend paying, transfer agency, redemption and
related services. During  1994 and during  the nine months  ended September  30,
1995,  the  Fund paid  Seligman Data  $837,197  and $665,717,  respectively, for
services rendered. The Manager  also pays the compensation  of Directors of  the
Fund  who are employees of, or consultants  to, the Manager and of the president
of Seligman Data.
 
     The Fund is responsible  for payment of all  its expenses other than  those
assumed  by  the  Manager. Fund  expenses  generally consist  of  direct charges
relating to the  purchase and  sale of portfolio  securities, interest  charges,
fees  and expenses of independent attorneys and auditors, taxes and governmental
fees, cost  of stock  certificates and  any other  expenses (including  clerical
expenses)  of  issue,  sale, repurchase  or  redemption of  shares,  expenses of
registering  and  qualifying   shares  for  sale,   expenses  of  printing   and
distributing  reports, notices and proxy  materials to shareholders, expenses of
corporate data processing  and related services,  shareholder recordkeeping  and
shareholder  account service, expenses of printing  and filing reports and other
documents  filed   with  governmental   agencies,  expenses   of  printing   and
distributing   prospectuses,  expenses  of   annual  and  special  shareholders'
meetings, fees and disbursements of transfer agents and custodians, expenses  of
disbursing  dividends and distributions,  fees and expenses  of Directors of the
Fund who are not employees of the Manager or its affiliates, membership dues  in
the  Investment Company Institute, insurance premiums and extraordinary expenses
such as  litigation expenses.  The  Management Agreement  does not  contain  any
expense  limitation provision although the Manager will reimburse its management
fee to the Fund to the extent required by state securities laws and regulations.
 
     The Management Agreement will  continue in effect  until December 29,  1995
and  from year to year thereafter if  such continuance is approved in the manner
required by the 1940 Act, and if
 
                                       15
 
<PAGE>
the Manager  shall not  have notified  the Fund  at least  60 days  prior to  an
anniversary  date  that  it does  not  desire such  continuance.  The Management
Agreement may be terminated  by the Fund, without  penalty, on 60 days'  written
notice  to the  Manager and  will terminate  automatically in  the event  of its
assignment.
 
PROPOSED FEE INCREASE
 
     The Current Fee.  The Management  Agreement currently provides  for a  fee,
computed  daily and paid monthly, equal to a percentage of the average daily net
assets of the Fund. This percentage, referred to as the management fee rate,  is
determined   by  reference  to  the  aggregate  net  assets  (based  upon  daily
valuations) of all investment companies managed  by the Manager, referred to  as
the  'Fee Base'.  The Annual  Fee Amount  (expressed in  dollars), calculated as
shown in  the  following  table, is  divided  by  the Fee  Base  to  obtain  the
management fee rate.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        ANNUAL
FEE BASE                                                                              FEE AMOUNT
- --------                                                                              ----------
 
<S>                                                                                   <C>
Total investment company net assets:
First $4 billion at................................................................       .50%
Next $2 billion at.................................................................       .48%
Next $2 billion at.................................................................       .46%
Thereafter.........................................................................       .44%
</TABLE>
 
     In 1994, the management fee amounted to $2,676,075, which was equivalent to
an  annual rate  of .49% of  the Fund's average  daily net assets.  For the nine
months ended  September 30,  1995, the  management fee  amounted to  $2,120,239,
which  was equivalent to an annual rate of  .48% of the Fund's average daily net
assets.
 
     The  Proposed  Fee.  Under  the  proposed  amendments  to  the   Management
Agreement,  the management fee rate  would no longer be  determined by a formula
based on the Fee Base. Instead, it would be determined by a formula based solely
on the assets of the Fund, with provision for a reduction of the management  fee
rate  as the assets  of the Fund grow.  The management fee  would continue to be
computed daily and  paid monthly. The  following table sets  forth the  proposed
revised schedule of management fee rate percentages.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        ANNUAL
NET ASSETS OF FUND                                                                     FEE RATE
- ------------------                                                                    ----------
 
<S>                                                                                   <C>
First $1 billion at................................................................       .65%
Next $1 billion at.................................................................       .60%
Thereafter.........................................................................       .55%
</TABLE>
 
                                       16
 
<PAGE>
     If  the  proposed  amendments to  the  management  fee had  been  in effect
throughout 1994,  the  management fee  for  that  year would  have  amounted  to
$3,546,751,  which would have been  equivalent to an annual  rate of .65% of the
Fund's average daily net assets. This would have represented an increase of  33%
over  the  actual  management  fee  of $2,676,075.  For  the  nine  months ended
September 30, 1995, the management fee would have amounted to $2,857,697,  which
would have been equivalent to an annual rate of .65% of the Fund's average daily
net  assets. This  would have  represented an  increase of  35% over  the actual
management fee of $2,120,239 for that period.
 
     The following table shows,  for the Fund's fiscal  year ended December  31,
1994, (a) the actual operating expenses for each class of the Fund's shares as a
percentage  of  average net  assets  and (b)  the  pro forma  operating expenses
assuming the proposed amendments to the Management Agreement had been in  effect
throughout the year.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     CLASS A SHARES           CLASS D SHARES
                                                  --------------------     --------------------
                                                  ACTUAL     PRO FORMA     ACTUAL     PRO FORMA
                                                  ------     ---------     ------     ---------
<S>                                               <C>        <C>           <C>        <C>
Management and Subadvisory Fee............          .49%         .65%        .49%         .65%
12b-1 Fees................................          .24          .24        1.00         1.00
Other Expenses............................          .22          .22         .47          .47
                                                  ------     ---------     ------     ---------
Total Fund Operating Expenses.............          .95%        1.11%       1.96%        2.12%
                                                  ------     ---------     ------     ---------
                                                  ------     ---------     ------     ---------
</TABLE>
 
     EXAMPLE:  The  following illustrates  the expenses  on a  $1,000 investment
under the existing and proposed fees and the expenses stated above, assuming (1)
a 5% annual return and (2) redemption at the end of each time period:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  1 YEAR     3 YEARS     5 YEARS     10 YEARS
                                                  ------     -------     -------     --------
<S>                                               <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>
Class A Shares:
     Existing Fee.........................          $57        $76         $ 98        $159
     Proposed Fee.........................           58         81          106         176
Class D Shares:
     Existing Fee.........................           30*        62          106         229
     Proposed Fee.........................           32*        66          114         245
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
* Assuming (i) a 5% annual return and (ii) no redemption at the end of one year,
  the expenses on a $1,000 investment would be $20 with respect to the  existing
  fee and $22 with respect to the proposed fee.
 
     The  purpose  of this  example  and the  table  is to  assist  investors in
understanding the various costs and expenses of investing in shares of the Fund.
THE EXAMPLE ABOVE SHOULD  NOT BE CONSIDERED A  REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR  FUTURE
EXPENSES  OF THE  FUND. ACTUAL EXPENSES  MAY VARY FROM  YEAR TO YEAR  AND MAY BE
HIGHER OR LOWER THAN THOSE SHOWN ABOVE.
 
                                       17
 
<PAGE>
FACTORS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
     The Board of Directors  has considered various  matters in determining  the
reasonableness  and  fairness of  the proposed  increase  in the  management fee
payable by the Fund. The Fund's legal counsel advised the Board of Directors  on
the  nature of the matters to be considered  and the standards to be used by the
Board of Directors in reaching its decision.
 
     In reaching its decision, the Board of Directors examined and weighed  many
factors,  including: (1) the nature and quality of the services rendered and the
results achieved by the Manager in the areas of investment management (including
investment performance comparisons with other mutual funds and certain  indices)
and  administrative services; (2) changes in  the mutual fund industry that have
affected the Fund; (3) the payments  received by the Manager and its  affiliates
from  all sources involving both the Fund  and the other investment companies in
the  Seligman  Group;   (4)  extensive  financial,   personnel  and   structural
information  as to the Manager's organization, including the costs borne by, and
profitability of, the  Manager and its  affiliates in providing  service of  all
types  to the Fund and to the  other investment companies in the Seligman Group;
(5) the organizational capabilities and financial condition of the Manager;  (6)
an  analysis of  the proposed fee  rate changes; (7)  information concerning the
Fund's expense ratio on both an existing and pro forma basis; (8) information as
to the management fees  paid by the other  Seligman Group investment  companies;
(9)  the  portfolio  allocation  policies  and practices  of  the  Fund  and its
historical portfolio turnover  rates; (10) competitive  industry fee  structures
and  expense ratios  including, specifically,  the relationship  of the proposed
management fee rates to those typically paid by similar funds; (11) a comparison
of the overall  profitability of  the Manager  to the  profitability of  certain
other  investment advisers; and (12) the fall-out benefits which the Manager and
its affiliates receive from the Manager's relationship to the Fund.
 
     Certain of the factors addressed by the Board in reaching its determination
are discussed in more detail below.
 
   
      Portfolio Performance. The Board  of Directors considered the  performance
of  the  Fund as  compared to  the  performance of  other funds  with comparable
objectives and as compared to securities indices. The nature and quality of  the
investment  advice rendered  by the  Manager as well  as the  backgrounds of the
portfolio managers  and  other executive  personnel  of the  Manager  were  also
considered  by Directors. The Board took  into account the investment results of
the Fund during the first six months of  1995, in 1994 and in recent years.  The
Board  noted  that organizational  and operational  changes designed  to improve
investment results  had  been made  in  recent  times and  had  been  previously
reported by the Manager to the Board.
    
 
                                       18
 
<PAGE>
     The  Fund's average annual total return  performance in comparison with the
annualized total  return  performances of  the  Lipper Growth  and  Income  Fund
Average  ('Lipper') and  the Standard &  Poor's 500 Composite  Stock Price Index
('S&P 500') is set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             10 YEARS          5 YEARS          1 YEAR
                                                           ENDED 6/30/95    ENDED 6/30/95    ENDED 6/30/95
                                                           -------------    -------------    -------------
 
<S>                                                        <C>              <C>              <C>
Lipper Growth and Income Fund Average...................       12.60%           11.20%           19.74%
Standard & Poor's 500 Index.............................       14.63            12.09            26.07
Seligman Common Stock Fund, Inc. -- Class A.............       13.35            11.53            19.20
                                 -- Class D.............         --              9.82*           18.02
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
Source: Lipper -- Mutual Fund Performance Services Inc.
* From commencement of operations on May 3, 1993 to June 30, 1995.
 
     The S&P  500  index is  unmanaged  and assumes  reinvestment  of  estimated
dividends  and  does not  reflect fees  and expenses.  Investors may  not invest
directly in  an index.  The Lipper  average and  the Fund's  performance  assume
reinvestment  of capital gains and dividends and do not reflect the deduction of
sales charges.
 
   
      Changes in the Mutual Fund Industry. The Board of Directors considered the
effect of changes  in the  mutual fund industry  since the  last management  fee
increase   in  1991.  Among  these,  the  Directors  considered  the  increasing
globalization of investment,  and the  fact that investment  advisory costs  are
generally higher for non-U.S. securities. (As discussed in Proposal 4 below, the
fees  payable  by  the  Manager  to  the  Subadviser  are  also  proposed  to be
increased.) At  September  30, 1995,  10%  of  the Fund's  assets  consisted  of
securities  of  non-U.S. issuers.  The Directors  also considered  the increased
competitiveness in the mutual fund industry that has resulted from the growth in
the total  assets under  management and  in the  number of  funds offered.  They
evaluated   the  extent   to  which  this   has  created   an  expectation  that
broker-distributed mutual funds will offer multiple classes of shares and a need
for enhanced marketing efforts by the Manager, the increased expense incurred by
the Manager  and  its affiliates  (primarily  the Fund's  distributor,  Seligman
Financial  Services, Inc.) in  connection with such  enhanced marketing efforts,
and  their  effectiveness.  The  Manager  advised  the  Directors  that  overall
marketing  expenditures for 1995 would be more than double total expenditures in
1990.  The  Directors  considered  these   factors  in  assessing  the   current
competitive  environment in the mutual fund industry. However, in evaluating the
fee increase proposal,  the Directors specifically  excluded from  consideration
the   Manager's  marketing  expenditures  and  their  effect  on  the  Manager's
profitability.
    
 
      Actual and Pro Forma Management Fees and Expenses. The Board of  Directors
considered  the effect of the proposed management fee increase on the Fund's fee
rates and annual expense
 
                                       19
 
<PAGE>
ratios (which  include  the management  fee  and all  other  operating  expenses
incurred   by  the  Fund).  The  table  set  forth  above  under  'Proposed  Fee
Increase --  The Proposed  Fee' provides  comparative data  for the  year  ended
December  31, 1994, assuming that  the proposed fee increase  had been in effect
throughout the year.
 
      Costs of  Providing  Service  and Profitability.  The  Directors  reviewed
information  concerning profitability  of the Manager's  investment advisory and
investment company activities and its financial condition based on results  from
1990  through  1994  and  estimates  for  the  first  six  months  of  1995. The
information considered  by  the Board  of  Directors included  operating  profit
margin  information for the  Manager's investment company  business alone (i.e.,
excluding results of its affiliates) and on a consolidated basis both before and
after the Manager's net expenditures for marketing. The Board of Directors  also
reviewed  profitability data for 1993 and  1994 and estimated profitability data
for 1995 for each of the  Seligman Group investment companies on a  fund-by-fund
basis.  In addition, such data were reviewed  on a pro forma basis assuming that
the proposed management  fee increase  had been  in effect  throughout 1995.  In
assessing  this information, the Board considered the  fact that the size of the
Fund results in certain economies of scale to the Manager. The Board  recognized
that the growth of assets under management by the Manager (particularly in 1995)
would  have positive  effects on  the Manager's  profitability even  without the
proposed fee  increase (and  those  being sought  in  respect of  certain  other
Seligman  Group companies); however, the Board also considered the fact that the
proposed fee increases would enhance the Manager's ability to attract and retain
highly qualified investment  and administrative professionals  in a  competitive
investment  management  environment, and  thus address  the expectations  of the
Board of  Directors  regarding  the  performance of  the  Fund  that  only  such
professionals  can satisfy. The Board of Directors also recognized that creating
vertically integrated investment  teams within the  Manager with  responsibility
for  specific investment management expertise and strategies (such as growth and
small capitalization  common  stocks, and  taxable  and municipal  fixed  income
securities)  will  establish a  structural underpinning  for the  services being
provided to the  Fund that is  likely to increase  the costs to  the Manager  of
providing those services.
 
     Certain  assumptions and methods  of allocation utilized  by the Manager in
preparing fund-by-fund data were reviewed by  the Board of Directors. While  the
Manager  believes that the methods of allocation used were reasonable, there are
limitations  inherent  in  allocating  costs  to  multiple  individual  advisory
products  served by  an organization  such as  the Manager's  where each  of the
advisory products  draws on,  and  benefits from,  the  pooled research  of  the
organization.
 
                                       20
 
<PAGE>
     The  Board of Directors was also  provided with consolidated financial data
concerning the Manager's revenues and expenses as a whole for 1993 and 1994 and,
on an estimated basis, for 1995.
 
      Comparisons with Other Funds. The Directors considered the management fees
paid by other  funds with  similar investment  objectives having  net assets  of
between  $250  million and  $1 billion.  In addition  to comparing  the proposed
management fees, the  Directors also considered  the comparability of  operating
expense   ratios  with   the  ratios   of  these   other  investment  companies.
Notwithstanding that under the proposal the Fund's management fee and  operating
expense  ratios  would  increase,  the  Board  of  Directors  believes  that the
management fee and  expense ratios  would remain comparable  to industry  norms.
Based  upon  the data  reported in  Lipper Directors'  Analytical Data  -- First
Edition 1995, the  Fund's management  fee rate  of .49%  in 1994  was the  tenth
lowest  among 49  investment companies with  a similar  investment objective and
assets between $250  million and $1  billion, and  on a pro  forma basis  giving
effect  to the proposed management fee increase,  its ratio of management fee to
average net  assets  of  .65% would  have  been  in the  middle  third  of  such
investment  companies. Based upon the same  data, the Fund's ratios of operating
expenses to average  net assets for  Class A and  Class D were  .95% and  1.96%,
respectively,  for  1994. After  giving effect  to  the proposed  management fee
increase, the ratios of operating expenses to average daily net assets for Class
A and Class D would have been 1.11% and 2.12%, respectively.
 
      Non-Advisory Services Provided  to the  Fund. The  Directors reviewed  the
general nature of the non-investment advisory services performed by the Manager.
In   addition  to  reviewing   such  services,  the   Directors  considered  the
organizational structure employed by the Manager to provide those services.  The
services provided to the Fund by Seligman Data were also considered.
 
      Fall-Out  Benefits. The Directors considered  the services provided to the
Fund and its shareholders by  Seligman Services, Inc. ('Seligman Services'),  an
affiliate  of the Manager, and the 12b-1 fees the Fund pays to Seligman Services
in respect of  shares of the  Fund held in  accounts for which  there would  not
otherwise be a broker of record.
 
     The  affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of
the Fund is required for  the adoption of this proposal.  Under the 1940 Act,  a
'vote  of a majority of the outstanding voting securities' of the Fund means the
affirmative vote of the lesser of (1) more than 50% of the outstanding shares of
the Fund or (2) 67% or more of the shares present at a shareholders' meeting  if
more than 50% of the outstanding shares are represented at the meeting in person
or by proxy.
 
                                       21
 
<PAGE>
     If  approved by shareholders at the Meeting, the proposed amendments to the
Management Agreement  and the  Management Agreement  as so  amended will  become
effective  on January 1, 1996. The Management Agreement, if approved as amended,
will continue  in  effect  until  December  31, 1996,  and  from  year  to  year
thereafter  if such continuance is  approved in the manner  required by the 1940
Act, and if the Manager shall not have notified the Fund at least 60 days  prior
to  an  anniversary  date that  it  does  not desire  such  continuance.  If the
amendments are  not  approved by  shareholders,  the Management  Agreement  will
continue  in  effect  in  its  present form,  subject  to  the  continuation and
termination provisions referred to above.
 
              YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT
                  SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSAL.
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE MANAGER
 
     Set forth below is information  concerning the principal executive  officer
and the Directors of the Manager:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
NAME                        PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION             POSITION WITH THE FUND
- ----                        --------------------             ---------------------- 
<S>                         <C>                              <C>
William C. Morris           Chairman of the Board            Chairman of the Board and
                            and President of the Manager     Chief Executive Officer
Fred E. Brown               Director of, and Consultant      Director
                            to, the Manager
Michael J. Del Priore       Director and Managing            None
                            Director of the Manager
William H. Hazen            Director and Managing            None
                            Director of the Manager
Thomas G. Moles             Director and Managing            None
                            Director of the Manager
Ronald T. Schroeder         Director, Managing               Director
                            Director and Chief
                            Investment Officer,
                            Institutional of the Manager
David F. Stein              Director and Managing            None
                            Director of the Manager
</TABLE>
 
                                       22
 
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME                        PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION             POSITION WITH THE FUND
- ----                        --------------------             ----------------------
<S>                         <C>                              <C>
David Watts                 Director and Managing            None
                            Director of the Manager
Brian T. Zino               Director and Managing            Director and President
                            Director of the Manager
</TABLE>
 
     The address of each of the foregoing is 100 Park Avenue, New York, New York
10017.
 
     Other  information with respect to the  executive officers and Directors of
the Fund is set forth under Proposal 1.
 
     William C. Morris owns a majority  of the outstanding voting securities  of
the  Manager. Accordingly, under the applicable  provisions of the 1940 Act, Mr.
Morris is a 'control  person' of the Manager.  In addition, Ronald T.  Schroeder
and  Brian T. Zino each own 10% or  more of the outstanding voting securities of
the Manager.
 
     As of January 1,  1995, Brian T.  Zino purchased 95  Class B common  shares
from the Manager, at a price of $1,344.80 per share.
 
     During  the year ended December  31, 1994, no commissions  were paid by the
Fund to any broker affiliated with the Manager.
 
             D. APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO THE SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
            TO INCREASE THE SUBADVISORY FEE PAYABLE BY THE MANAGER.
 
                                  (Proposal 4)
 
GENERAL
 
     The Board of Directors  of the Fund is  proposing for shareholder  approval
amendments  to the  Subadvisory Agreement, date  June 1,  1994 (the 'Subadvisory
Agreement'), between the Manager and Seligman Henderson Co. (the  'Subadviser'),
a joint venture between the Manager and Henderson International Inc., the effect
of  which would be to increase the subadvisory fee payable by the Manager to the
Subadviser. Fees  under  the Subadvisory  Agreement  are paid  directly  by  the
Manager  from its management  fee and do not  effect the fees  paid by the Fund.
Shareholders are also  being asked to  approve the Subadvisory  Agreement as  so
amended. In addition to the requirement of shareholder approval, the adoption of
the  amendments  to the  Subadvisory Agreement  is conditioned  upon shareholder
approval of the amendments to the Management Agreement as set forth in  Proposal
3.    If    the   amendments    to    the   Management    Agreement    are   not
 
                                       23
 
<PAGE>
approved by shareholders, the Subadvisory  Agreement will continue in effect  in
its  present  form.  The  factors  considered  by  the  Board  of  Directors  in
determining the  reasonableness and  fairness of  the proposed  subadvisory  fee
increase  are  described  below  under  'Factors  Considered  by  the  Board  of
Directors.'  A  copy  of  the  Subadvisory  Agreement  reflecting  the  proposed
amendments is set forth as Exhibit C to this Proxy Statement.
 
     The  Subadviser was  founded in 1991  as a general  partnership between the
Manager and  Henderson  International,  Inc.,  each  partner  owning  equal  50%
interests  in the joint venture.  Henderson International, Inc., whose principal
address is  3 Finsbury  Avenue,  London EC2M  2PA,  England, is  a  wholly-owned
subsidiary of Henderson Administration Group plc, a publicly-held United Kingdom
corporation, located at the same address. Information relating to the Manager is
provided  in Proposal  3. The  Subadviser is headquartered  in New  York and was
created to provide  international and global  investment management services  to
institutional  and individual investors  and investment companies  in the United
States.
 
     The Subadviser  may  manage  a  portion of  the  Fund's  assets  under  the
Subadvisory  Agreement. The Subadviser currently serves as subadviser to several
other investment  companies. A  table  setting forth  the  net assets  of  those
investment  companies for which  the Subadviser currently  serves as subadviser,
and which have investment  objectives similar to the  Fund, and the  subadvisory
fee  rate  paid  by such  companies,  is attached  as  Exhibit D  to  this Proxy
Statement. The aggregate net assets managed by the Subadviser were approximately
$1.9 billion at September  30, 1995, including $52.3  million of the Fund's  net
assets.
 
     The  Subadvisory Agreement  was approved by  the Board of  Directors of the
Fund on January 20, 1994 and by the shareholders of the Fund on May 19, 1994 and
has not subsequently been  submitted to a vote  of the shareholders. Fees  under
the  Subadvisory Agreement are paid by the  Manager to the Subadviser and do not
affect the fees payable by the Fund under the Management Agreement. The fee rate
payable under the Management Agreement is proposed to be increased (see Proposal
3 in this Proxy Statement), and the fee rate under the Subadvisory Agreement  is
proposed to be increased correspondingly.
 
     The  Manager's proposal to increase the subadvisory fee as set forth in the
proposed amendments was  considered at meetings  of the Board  of Directors,  at
which  a majority of the Directors who  are not 'interested persons' (as defined
in the 1940 Act) of the Fund or the Subadviser was present, held on July 20  and
September  21, 1995, and at meetings of  a subcommittee of Directors who are not
interested persons on August 29 and September  15, 1995 and at a meeting of  the
Board  Operations  Committee  of  the  Fund held  on  September  21,  1995. Such
consideration was  based  upon  financial,  statistical  and  other  information
supplied to the
 
                                       24
 
<PAGE>
Directors  by  the  Manager  and  the Subadviser.  On  September  21,  1995, the
Directors unanimously concluded that the proposed amendments to the  Subadvisory
Agreement  are fair and reasonable and  justified by business considerations and
determined to submit the  Subadvisory Agreement as  amended to shareholders  for
their approval.
 
TERMS OF THE SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
 
     Under the Subadvisory Agreement, the Subadviser, at its expense and subject
to  the control of the Board of Directors and in accordance with the objectives,
policies and principles of the Fund set forth in the Fund's Prospectus, provides
the Fund  with investment  management services,  including investment  research,
advice and supervision, with respect to certain assets of the Fund designated by
the  Manager (the 'Qualifying  Assets'). With respect  to the Qualifying Assets,
the Subadviser will determine which securities shall be purchased or sold by the
Fund, make purchases and sales of securities on behalf of the Fund and determine
how any  rights of  the  Fund shall  be exercised.  Currently,  the Fund  has  a
non-fundamental  policy under which it may invest  up to 10% of its total assets
in foreign  securities.  Qualifying Assets  comprise  all  or a  part  of  these
securities.  American Depositary Receipts are  not considered foreign securities
for purpose of the Fund's investment policy, but may be designated as Qualifying
Assets. The  Subadviser does  not perform  any non-advisory  services under  the
Subadvisory Agreement.
 
     The  Subadvisory Agreement will continue in  effect until December 31, 1995
and from year to year thereafter if  such continuance is approved in the  manner
required  by the  1940 Act, and  if the  Subadviser shall not  have notified the
Manager at least 60 days  prior to an anniversary date  that it does not  desire
such  continuance.  The Subadvisory  Agreement may  be  terminated by  the Fund,
without penalty, on 60 days' written notice to the Subadviser and will terminate
automatically in  the  event  of  its assignment  or  upon  termination  of  the
Management Agreement.
 
PROPOSED FEE INCREASE
 
     The  Current Fee. The  Subadvisory Agreement currently  provides for a fee,
computed and paid  monthly, equal  to a percentage  of the  average monthly  Net
Qualifying  Assets  of the  Fund.  The term  'Net  Qualifying Assets'  means the
Qualifying Assets less related  liabilities as designated  by the Manager.  This
percentage,  referred to as the subadvisory fee rate, is determined by reference
to the  Fee Base  (as defined  above). The  Fee Amount  (expressed in  dollars),
calculated as shown in the following table, is divided by the Fee Base to obtain
the subadvisory fee rate.
 
                                       25
 
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ANNUAL
FEE BASE                                                                               FEE AMOUNT
- --------                                                                               ----------
 
<S>                                                                                    <C>
Total investment company net assets:
First $4 billion at.................................................................       .50%
Next $2 billion at..................................................................       .48%
Next $2 billion at..................................................................       .46%
Thereafter..........................................................................       .44%
</TABLE>
 
     For  the  period from  June 1,  1994 (when  the Subadvisory  Agreement took
effect) to December 31,  1994, the subadvisory fee  amounted to $146,005,  which
was  equivalent to an annualized rate of  .49% of the Fund's average monthly Net
Qualifying Assets. For the nine months ended September 30, 1995, the subadvisory
fee amounted to $182,204, which was equivalent to an annualized rate of .48%  of
the  Fund's average monthly Net Qualifying Assets. Qualifying Assets constituted
8.4% of the  Fund's portfolio at  December 31,  1994 and 7.8%  at September  30,
1995.
 
     The  Proposed  Fee.  Under  the  proposed  amendments  to  the  Subadvisory
Agreement, the subadvisory fee rate would  no longer be determined by a  formula
based on the Fee Base. Instead, it would be determined by a formula based solely
on the assets of the Fund, with provision for a reduction of the subadvisory fee
rate  as the assets of  the Fund grow. The subadvisory  fee would continue to be
computed and paid monthly. The following  table sets forth the proposed  revised
schedule  of subadvisory fee  rate percentages. The rate  so determined would be
applied to the Qualifying Assets.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           ANNUAL
NET ASSETS OF FUND                                                                        FEE RATE
- ------------------                                                                        --------
 
<S>                                                                                       <C>
First $1 billion at....................................................................      .65%
Next $1 billion at.....................................................................      .60%
Thereafter.............................................................................      .55%
</TABLE>
 
     If the proposed amendments to the  subadvisory fee had been in effect  from
June  1, 1994 to  December 31, 1994,  the subadvisory fee  for that period would
have amounted to $193,509, which would have been equivalent to an annual rate of
 .65% of  the Fund's  average  monthly Net  Qualifying  Assets. This  would  have
represented  an increase of 33% over the actual subadvisory fee of $146,005. For
the nine  months  ended September  30,  1995,  the subadvisory  fee  would  have
amounted to $241,485, which would have been equivalent to an annual rate of .65%
of the Fund's average monthly Net Qualifying Assets. This would have represented
an increase of 33% over the actual subadvisory fee of $182,204 for that period.
 
     As  noted above, approval  of the proposed increase  in the subadvisory fee
would not affect  the total management  fee payable  by the Fund  or the  Fund's
total expenses. Information with respect
 
                                       26
 
<PAGE>
to  the effect  on the  Fund's total  expenses of  the proposed  increase in the
management fee is provided in Proposal 3 above.
 
FACTORS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
 
     The Board of Directors  has considered various  matters in determining  the
reasonableness and fairness of the proposed increase in the subadvisory fee rate
payable  by the Manager to  the Subadviser with respect  to the Fund. The Fund's
legal counsel advised the Board of Directors on the nature of the matters to  be
considered  and the standards to  be used by the  Board of Directors in reaching
its decision.
 
     In reaching its decision, the Board of Directors examined and weighed  many
factors,  including: (1) the nature and quality of the services rendered and the
results achieved  by  the  Subadviser  in the  areas  of  investment  management
(including  investment  performance  comparisons  with  other  mutual  funds and
certain indices);  (2) recent  changes in  the mutual  fund industry  that  have
affected  the Fund, particularly  the increasingly global  investment focus; (3)
the payments received  by the  Subadviser and  its affiliates  from all  sources
involving  both  the Fund  and the  other investment  companies in  the Seligman
Group; (4) extensive financial, personnel  and structural information as to  the
Subadviser's  organization, including the costs  borne by, and profitability of,
the Subadviser and its affiliates in providing service of all types to the  Fund
and   to  the  other  investment  companies  in  the  Seligman  Group;  (5)  the
organizational capabilities and  financial condition of  the Subadviser; (6)  an
analysis  of the  proposed fee  rate changes;  (7) the  relationship between the
Manager and the Subadviser; (8) information  as to the subadvisory fees paid  by
the  other  Seligman Group  investment companies;  (9) the  portfolio allocation
policies and practices of the Fund and its historical portfolio turnover  rates;
(10)   competitive  industry  fee  structures   and  expense  ratios  including,
specifically, the relationship of  the proposed subadvisory  fee rates to  those
typically  paid  by  similar  funds;  (11)  the  overall  profitability  of  the
Subadviser; and  (12)  the  fall-out  benefits  which  the  Subadviser  and  its
affiliates receive from the Subadviser's relationship to the Fund.
 
     Certain of the factors addressed by the Board in reaching its determination
are discussed in more detail below.
 
      Portfolio  Performance. The  Directors considered  the performance  of the
Fund (including the Qualifying Assets) as  compared to the performance of  other
funds  with comparable  objectives and  as compared  to securities  indices. The
nature and quality of the investment  advice rendered by the Subadviser as  well
as  the  backgrounds  of  personnel  of  the  Subadviser  were  also  considered
 
                                       27
 
<PAGE>
by Directors. The  Board took into  account the investment  results of the  Fund
during the first six months of 1995, in 1994 and in recent years.
 
     The Fund's cumulative total return performance in comparison with the total
return performances of the Lipper Growth and Income Fund Average and the S&P 500
is set forth in Proposal 3 above.
 
      Arrangement  between the  Manager and  the Subadviser.  The Subadviser was
initially engaged by  the Manager, with  the approval of  the Directors and  the
shareholders,   in  1994.  The  business  understanding,  as  reflected  in  the
Subadvisory Agreement, was  that the  Manager would  pay to  the Subadviser  the
entire  management  fee in  respect  of assets  managed  by the  Subadviser. The
current proposal would continue this  arrangement by increasing the  subadvisory
fee  in proportion to the proposed increase in the management fee. The Directors
found that this  appeared to continue  to be a  reasonable business  arrangement
and, since the subadvisory fee is paid entirely by the Manager, that it would be
in no way detrimental to the Fund.
 
      Changes in the Mutual Fund Industry. The Board of Directors considered the
effect  of changes in the mutual fund industry in recent years, particularly the
increasing globalization of  investment, and the  fact that investment  advisory
costs are generally higher for non-U.S. securities.
 
      Costs  of  Providing  Service and  Profitability.  The  Directors reviewed
information concerning profitability of the Subadviser's investment advisory and
investment company activities and its financial condition based on results  from
1992,  1993 and 1994 and  estimates for 1995. The  information considered by the
Board  of  Directors  included  operating  profit  margin  information  for  the
Subadviser's  investment company business. The  Board of Directors also reviewed
profitability data for 1994 and estimated  profitability data for 1995 for  each
of the Seligman Group investment companies for which the Subadviser has provided
investment  advice on a fund-by-fund basis. In addition, such estimated data for
1995 were reviewed on  a pro forma basis  assuming that the proposed  management
fee increase had been in effect throughout 1995. Certain assumptions and methods
of  allocation utilized  by the Subadviser  in preparing  fund-by-fund data were
reviewed by the Board of Directors. While the Manager and the Subadviser believe
that the  methods of  allocation  used were  reasonable, there  are  limitations
inherent  in allocating costs to multiple individual advisory products served by
an organization such  as the Subadviser's  where each of  the advisory  products
draws  on, and benefits from, the pooled research of the organization. Moreover,
in light of  the size  of the  Subadviser and the  current number  and value  of
accounts  under  its  management,  the Directors  recognized  that  many  of the
Subadviser's expenses  are  absorbed  directly  by the  partners  that  own  the
Subadviser,  including the Manager. With respect  to the Manager, these expenses
are   reflected    in   the    Manager's   profitability    data.   Thus,    the
 
                                       28
 
<PAGE>
Directors  determined that the  profitability of the  Subadviser should be given
relatively less significance in evaluating the proposed fee increase.
 
     The affirmative 'vote of a  majority of the outstanding voting  securities'
of  the  Fund,  as defined  in  Proposal 3,  is  required for  adoption  of this
proposal.
 
     The proposed amendments to the Subadvisory Agreement will be adopted if (i)
the amendments to  the Subadvisory  Agreement and the  Subadvisory Agreement  as
amended  are approved by the shareholders at the meeting and (ii) the amendments
to the Management Agreement and the  Management Agreement as so amended, as  set
forth  in  Proposal 3,  are approved.  If  so adopted,  such amendments  will be
effective on January 1, 1996. The Subadvisory Agreement, if approved as amended,
will continue  in  effect  until  December  31, 1996,  and  from  year  to  year
thereafter  if such continuance is  approved in the manner  required by the 1940
Act, and if the Subadviser shall not have notified the Manager at least 60  days
prior  to an anniversary date  that it does not  desire such continuance. If the
amendments are not adopted, the Subadvisory Agreement will continue in effect in
its present  form,  subject  to  the  continuation  and  termination  provisions
referred to above.
 
              YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT
                  SHAREHOLDERS VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS PROPOSAL.
 
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING THE SUBADVISER
 
     The principal executive officer of the Subadviser is Rodney G.D. Smith. The
Subadviser  is governed  by a  Management Committee  comprised of  the following
individuals:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME                                  PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION
- ----                                  --------------------           
<S>                                   <C>
Iain C. Clark                         Chief Investment Officer of the Subadviser and Chief of International
                                      Investment of Henderson International Limited
Michael J. Del Priore                 Director and Managing Director of the Manager
Jeremy J.C. Edwards                   Director of Henderson Administration Group plc
Mark J. Lund                          Managing Director of Henderson International Limited
Ronald T. Schroeder                   Director, Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer,
                                      Institutional of the Manager
Rodney G.D. Smith                     Chief Executive Officer of the Subadviser
David F. Stein                        Director and Managing Director of the Manager
</TABLE>
 
                                       29
 
<PAGE>
     The address of Messrs. Clark, Edwards and Lund is 3 Finsbury Avenue, London
EC2M 2PA, England. The address of Messrs. Del Priore, Schroeder, Smith and Stein
is 100 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017.
 
     Additionally, Brian T. Zino, Director and President of the Fund, is  Senior
Vice President of the Subadviser; Lawrence P. Vogel, Vice President of the Fund,
is  Treasurer of the Subadviser;  and Frank J. Nasta,  Secretary of the Fund, is
Secretary of the Subadviser.
 
     During the year ended  December 31, 1994, no  commissions were paid by  the
Fund to any broker affiliated with the Subadviser.
 
                   E. APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT OF THE FUNDAMENTAL
                      INVESTMENT POLICY REGARDING BORROWING.
 
                                  (Proposal 5)
 
     The  Fund's fundamental investment  policies provide that  the Fund may not
borrow money, except for temporary purposes in an amount not to exceed 5% of the
value of the Fund's total assets. The Fund proposes to amend this policy so that
it may borrow  up to  15% of  the value  of its  total assets  for temporary  or
emergency  purposes. The purpose of  the change is to  permit the Fund to borrow
money, rather than be forced  to sell its portfolio  holdings, in order to  meet
substantial  redemption  requests. Such  requests  may occur  during  periods of
volatile market conditions when the Fund  might find it disadvantageous to  sell
its portfolio holdings. Sales of securities at unfavorable prices may reduce the
net asset value of the Fund's shares, thus adversely affecting all shareholders,
including those who do not redeem any of their shares.
 
     By  borrowing  to meet  redemption  requests instead  of  selling portfolio
holdings, the Fund may be able to delay selling its holdings until prices are at
more favorable levels. If additional shares of  the Fund are sold, the Fund  may
be  able to use those  proceeds to pay down  its borrowings, thus avoiding sales
and repurchases of portfolio  securities, which could  force the recognition  of
capital  gains. The Fund must  of course pay interest  on its borrowings and the
Manager will be responsible in any particular situation for determining  whether
borrowing  or selling portfolio securities is in the best interests of the Fund.
The broadening of the policy to permit borrowings in emergencies (as well as for
temporary purposes) is intended to recognize that adverse market conditions  may
continue  for relatively long periods that might not ordinarily be characterized
as 'temporary.'
 
     Although the Fund has no current plans to do so, it may in the future  seek
to  obtain a committed line of credit from a bank or other financial institution
to ensure that  it will be  able to  borrow when circumstances  require and  the
investment policy permits it.
 
                                       30
 
<PAGE>
     At  a meeting held on September 21, 1995, the Board of Directors determined
that increasing the Fund's borrowing limit in  this manner would be in the  best
interests  of  the  Fund.  Therefore, the  Directors  approved  and recommended,
subject  to  shareholder  approval,  that  the  fundamental  investment   policy
regarding  borrowing be amended as set forth below. Language to be deleted is in
[brackets] and language to be added is underlined. 
                                       ----------
 
     . . . The Fund may not . . .
 
          Borrow money, except for temporary or emergency purposes in an  amount
                                             ------------
     not to exceed 15% [5%] of the value of its total assets. 
                   ---
 
     The  affirmative 'vote of a majority  of the outstanding voting securities'
of the  Fund,  as defined  in  Proposal 3,  is  required for  adoption  of  this
proposal.
 
                 YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS
                           APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL.
 
                F. APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT OF THE FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT
               POLICY REGARDING MORTGAGING OR PLEDGING OF ASSETS.
 
                                  (Proposal 6)
 
     The  Fund's fundamental investment  policies provide that  the Fund may not
mortgage or pledge any of its  assets, except to secure permitted borrowings  up
to  5%  of  the value  of  its total  assets  and  except to  enter  into escrow
arrangements in  connection  with  the  sales  of  permitted  call  options.  As
discussed under Proposal 5, the Fund is recommending that shareholders approve a
proposal  to increase the amount that the Fund may borrow to 15% of the value of
its total assets. In some circumstances, the Fund may be able to borrow only, or
on more  favorable terms,  on a  secured  basis and  this investment  policy  is
intended to permit such secured borrowings.
 
     The  Manager has informed the  Fund that, if the  Fund's assets are used to
collateralize a loan, there may not  be a direct correlation between the  amount
of  the loan and the value of the assets provided as collateral. This is because
the Fund's borrowing limit is determined as a percentage of the current value of
its total assets, whereas a financial institution may require collateral with  a
value  in excess of the amount to be  loaned and may value pledged assets on the
basis of either historical cost or  current market value. For these reasons,  it
is  proposed  that, rather  than  specify a  percentage  limit on  mortgages and
pledges of assets, the Fund be permitted to mortgage or pledge its assets to the
extent necessary  to secure  permitted borrowings.  The policy  with respect  to
escrow arrangements for permitted call options is not proposed to be changed.
       
                                       31
 
<PAGE>
     At  a meeting held on September 21, 1995, the Board of Directors determined
that amending the  limitation on the  Fund's ability to  mortgage or pledge  its
assets in the manner described above would be in the best interests of the Fund.
Therefore,  the  Directors  approved  and  recommended,  subject  to shareholder
approval,  the  proposal  that  the  fundamental  investment  policy   regarding
mortgaging  or pledging  of the  Fund's assets  be amended  as set  forth below.
Language to be deleted is in [brackets] and language to be added is underlined.
                                                                    -----------

     . . . The Fund may not . . .
 
          Mortgage or pledge any of its  assets, except to the extent  necessary
                                                        ------------------------
     to effect [secure] permitted borrowings on a secured basis [up to 5% of the
     ---------                               ------------------
     value  of its total assets] and except to enter into escrow arrangements in
     connection with the sales of permitted call options.
 
     The affirmative 'vote of a  majority of the outstanding voting  securities'
of  the  Fund,  as defined  in  Proposal 3,  is  required for  adoption  of this
proposal.
 
                      YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY
                     RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THIS PROPOSAL.
 
               G. APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT OF THE FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT
                POLICY REGARDING INVESTMENT IN REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS.
 
                                  (Proposal 7)
 
     The Fund's fundamental investment  policies provide that  the Fund may  not
invest  in real  estate investment trusts  ('REITs'), although it  may invest in
securities secured by  real estate  or interests  therein or  issued by  persons
(other than REITs) that deal in real estate or interests therein.
 
     A  REIT  is a  company, which  may be  publicly traded,  that invests  in a
portfolio of real estate properties, mortgages or both. REITs may specialize  in
certain  kinds of property  (or related mortgages),  such as houses, apartments,
shopping centers, or  offices. They  engage professional  managers to  supervise
their  investments. REITs are afforded special  treatment under federal tax law,
most notably in that earnings are not taxed at the REIT level but instead at the
shareholder level.  At  year-end 1994,  there  were approximately  300  publicly
traded  REITs, and total REIT assets were approximately $65 billion. While REITs
may offer  a relatively  high yield,  an investment  in REITs  involves  certain
risks,  particularly  price  volatility.  The  Manager  believes  that carefully
selected REITs may from  time to time be  an attractive investment that  further
the Fund's
 
                                       32
 
<PAGE>
objective  of  producing  favorable,  but not  the  highest  current  income and
long-term growth of both income and  capital value, without exposing capital  to
undue risk.
 
     At  a meeting held on September 21, 1995, the Board of Directors determined
that permitting the Fund to  invest in REITs would be  in the best interests  of
the  Fund.  Therefore,  the  Directors  approved  and  recommended,  subject  to
shareholder approval,  the  proposal  that  the  fundamental  investment  policy
regarding  investment in  REITs be  amended as set  forth below.  Language to be
deleted is in [brackets] and language to be added is underlined. 
                                                     ----------
 
     . . . The Fund may not . . .
 
          Purchase or  hold any  real  estate, except  the  Fund may  invest  in
     securities secured by real estate or interests therein or issued by persons
     (including  [other than] real estate investment  trusts) which deal in real
     ----------
     estate or interests therein.
 
     The affirmative 'vote of a  majority of the outstanding voting  securities'
of  the  Fund,  as defined  in  Proposal 3,  is  required for  adoption  of this
proposal.
 
                    H. OTHER MATTERS; SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS.
 
     The Management knows of no other matters which are to be brought before the
Meeting. However, if any other matters  come before the Meeting, it is  intended
that the persons named in the enclosed form of Proxy, or their substitutes, will
vote the Proxy in accordance with their judgment on such matters.
 
     A  shareholder proposal intended to be represented at any meeting hereafter
called must  be  received  by the  Fund  within  a reasonable  time  before  the
solicitation  relating thereto is made in order  to be included in the notice of
meeting, proxy statement and form of  proxy relating to such meeting. Under  the
current  By-Laws of the Fund,  meetings of shareholders are  required to be held
only  when  necessary  under  the  1940  Act.  It  is  therefore  unlikely  that
shareholder  meetings  will be  held on  an  annual basis.  The submission  by a
shareholder of  a  proposal  for  inclusion in  the  proxy  statement  does  not
guarantee that it will be included. Shareholder proposals are subject to certain
regulations under federal law.
 
                                       33
 
<PAGE>
                                  I. EXPENSES.
 
     The  Manager  will bear  the  cost of  soliciting  Proxies with  respect to
Proposals 3 and 4, and the Fund will bear the balance of the cost of  soliciting
Proxies.  In  addition  to  the  use of  the  mails,  Proxies  may  be solicited
personally or by telephone or telegraph by Directors, officers and employees  of
the  Fund, the Manager, Seligman Financial Services, Inc., Seligman Services and
Seligman Data and the Fund may  reimburse persons holding shares in their  names
or  names of their nominees for  their expenses in sending solicitation material
to their principals. Morrow &  Co., Inc., 909 Third  Avenue, New York, New  York
10022-4799  has been engaged  to assist in  soliciting for a  fee of $4,000 plus
expenses, to be paid by the Manager.
 
                                             By order of the Board of Directors,
                                                                       Secretary
                             ---------------------
 
     IT IS  IMPORTANT  THAT  PROXIES BE  RETURNED  PROMPTLY.  ALL  SHAREHOLDERS,
INCLUDING  THOSE WHO EXPECT TO  ATTEND THE MEETING, ARE  URGED TO DATE, FILL IN,
SIGN AND MAIL THE ENCLOSED FORM OF  PROXY IN THE ENCLOSED RETURN ENVELOPE  WHICH
REQUIRES  NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. A PROXY IS NOT REQUIRED FOR
ADMISSION TO THE MEETING.
 
                                       34

<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT A
(LANGUAGE TO BE DELETED IS IN [BRACKETS] AND LANGUAGE TO BE ADDED IS UNDERLINED)
                                                                     ----------
                              MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT
 
MANAGEMENT  AGREEMENT, dated as of December 29, 1988, and amended April 10, 1991
and January  1, 1996,  between  SELIGMAN COMMON  STOCK  FUND, INC.,  a  Maryland
- --------------------
corporation  (the 'Corporation'),  and J.  & W.  SELIGMAN &  CO. INCORPORATED, a
Delaware corporation (the 'Manager').
 
     In consideration of the mutual  agreements herein made, the parties  hereto
agree as follows:
 
     1.  DUTIES OF  THE MANAGER.  The Manager  shall manage  the affairs  of the
Corporation  including,  but   not  limited  to,   continuously  providing   the
Corporation  with investment  management, including  investment research, advice
and supervision, determining which securities shall be purchased or sold by  the
Corporation,  making  purchases  and  sales  of  securities  on  behalf  of  the
Corporation and  determining  how  voting  and  other  rights  with  respect  to
securities  of the Corporation shall  be exercised, subject in  each case to the
control of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and in accordance with  the
objectives,  policies and principles set forth in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus of the Corporation and the requirements of the Investment Company Act
of 1940 (the  'Act') and other  applicable law. In  performing such duties,  the
Manager  shall provide such office space, such bookkeeping, accounting, internal
legal, clerical, secretarial and administrative  services (exclusive of, and  in
addition  to,  any  such  services  provided  by  any  others  retained  by  the
Corporation) and such executive  and other personnel as  shall be necessary  for
the  operations of the Corporation. The Manager  shall also, if requested by and
subject to the control of the Board of Directors of Seligman [Union] Data  Corp.
                                                    --------               -----
[Service  Center, Inc.]  ('Data'), manage the  affairs of Data  and provide Data
with such  office management,  personnel, reproduction,  employee cafeteria  and
internal  legal services  and such  senior executive  officers (other  than vice
presidents) as may be necessary for the operation of Data, and with a treasurer,
a corporate secretary and a principal operating officer.
 
     2. EXPENSES. The  Manager shall pay  all of its  expenses arising from  the
performance  of its obligations under Section 1 and shall pay any salaries, fees
and expenses  of the  directors of  the  Corporation who  are employees  of  the
Manager  or its affiliates. The  Manager shall not be  required to pay any other
expenses of  the Corporation,  including,  but not  limited to,  direct  charges
relating  to the  purchase and sale  of portfolio  securities, interest charges,
fees and expenses of independent attorneys and auditors, taxes and  governmental
fees,  cost of  stock certificates  and any  other expenses  (including clerical
expenses) of  issue,  sale, repurchase  or  redemption of  shares,  expenses  of
registering   and  qualifying  shares   for  sale,  expenses   of  printing  and
distributing reports,
 
                                       35
 
<PAGE>
notices  and  proxy  materials  to  shareholders,  expenses  of  corporate  data
processing  and  related  services,  shareholder  recordkeeping  and shareholder
account service, expenses  of printing  and filing reports  and other  documents
filed   with  governmental  agencies,  expenses  of  printing  and  distributing
prospectuses, expenses of  annual and special  shareholders' meetings, fees  and
disbursements   of  transfer  agents  and  custodians,  expenses  of  disbursing
dividends and distributions, fees and  expenses of directors of the  Corporation
who  are not employees of the Manager  or its affiliates, membership dues in the
Investment Company Institute, insurance premiums and extraordinary expenses such
as litigation expenses.

     3. COMPENSATION
 
          (a) As compensation for the services performed and the facilities  and
              personnel  provided  by the  Manager  pursuant to  Section  1, the
              Corporation will pay to the Manager promptly after the end of each
              month a fee, calculated on each day during such month on the basis
              of the Corporation's net  assets at the close  of business on  the
              previous  day,  at an  annual rate  of  .65% of  the Corporation's
                              --------------------------------------------------
              average daily  net  assets  on the  first  $1,000,000,000  of  net
              ------------------------------------------------------------------
              assets,  .60% of the Corporation's average daily net assets on the
              ------------------------------------------------------------------
              next $1,000,000,000 and  .55% of the  Corporation's average  daily
              ------------------------------------------------------------------
              net  assets in excess of  $2,000,000,000. [equal to the Applicable
              ----------------------------------------
              Percentage of the daily net assets of the Corporation at the close
              of business on the previous business day.]
 
          [(b) As used herein.
 
             (1) The term 'Applicable Percentage' means the amount (expressed as
                 a percentage and rounded  to the nearest  one millionth of  one
                 percent)  obtained by dividing  (i) the Fee  Amount by (ii) the
                 Fee Base.
 
             (2) The term 'Fee Amount' means the sum of the following:
 
                 .50 of 1% on an annual basis of the first $4,000,000,000 of Fee
                 Base,
 
                 .48 of 1% on an annual basis of the next $2,000,000,000 of  Fee
                 Base,
 
                 .46  of 1% on an annual basis of the next $2,000,000,000 of Fee
                 Base, and
 
                 .44 of  1%  on  an  annual  basis of  Fee  Base  in  excess  of
                 $8,000,000,000.
 
             (3) The  term 'Fee  Base' as of  any day  means the sum  of the net
                 assets at the close of business on the previous day of each  of
                 the investment companies registered under the Act for which the
                 Manager or any affiliated company acts as investment adviser or
                 manager (including the Corporation).]
 
          (b) [(c)] If the Manager shall serve hereunder for less than the whole
          ---
              of any month, the fee hereunder shall be prorated.
 
                                       36
 
<PAGE>
     4.  PURCHASE AND SALE OF SECURITIES.  The Manager shall purchase securities
from or  through and  sell securities  to or  through such  persons, brokers  or
dealers  (including the Manager or  an affiliate of the  Manager) as the Manager
shall deem  appropriate  in  order to  carry  out  the policy  with  respect  to
brokerage  as  set forth  in the  Registration Statement  and Prospectus  of the
Corporation or as the Board of Directors of the Corporation may direct from time
to time. In providing the Corporation with investment management and supervision
it is  recognized  that the  Manager  will seek  the  most favorable  price  and
execution,  and,  consistent with  such policy,  may  give consideration  to the
research, statistical and other services furnished by brokers or dealers to  the
Manager  for  its use,  to the  general  attitude of  brokers or  dealers toward
investment companies and their support of them, and to such other considerations
as the Board of Directors of the  Corporation may direct or authorize from  time
to time.
 
     Notwithstanding  the above, it  is understood that it  is desirable for the
Corporation that the Manager have  access to supplemental investment and  market
research  and security  and economic  analysis provided  by brokers  who execute
brokerage transactions at a higher cost to the Corporation than may result  when
allocating brokerage to other brokers on the basis of seeking the most favorable
price  and execution. Therefore,  the Manager is authorized  to place orders for
the purchase  and sale  of securities  for the  Corporation with  such  brokers,
subject to review by the Corporation's Board of Directors from time to time with
respect  to the extent and continuation of  this practice. It is understood that
the services provided by such brokers may be useful to the Manager in connection
with its services to other clients as well as to the Corporation.
 
     The placing of purchase and sale orders  may be carried out by the  Manager
or any wholly-owned subsidiary of the Manager.
 
     If,   in  connection  with  purchases  and  sales  of  securities  for  the
Corporation, the Manager or any subsidiary of the Manager may, without  material
risk,  arrange to  receive a soliciting  dealer's fee or  other underwriter's or
dealer's discount or commission, the Manager shall, unless otherwise directed by
the Board  of  Directors  of  the Corporation,  obtain  such  fee,  discount  or
commission and the amount thereof shall be applied to reduce the compensation to
be received by the Manager pursuant to Section 3 hereof.
 
     Nothing  herein shall  prohibit the Board  of Directors  of the Corporation
from approving  the payment  by the  Corporation of  additional compensation  to
others  for consulting services, supplemental research and security and economic
analysis.
 
     5. TERM  OF AGREEMENT.  This Agreement  shall continue  in full  force  and
effect until December 31 [29], 1996 [2] and from year to year thereafter if such
                      --          -
continuance  is approved in  the manner required  by the Act  and if the Manager
shall   not   have    notified   the   Corporation    in   writing   at    least
 
                                       37
 
<PAGE>
60  days prior to such December 31 [29] or prior to December 31 [29] of any year
                                --                           --
thereafter that  it does  not desire  such continuance.  This Agreement  may  be
terminated  at any time,  without payment of  penalty by the  Corporation, on 60
days' written notice to  the Manager by  vote of the Board  of Directors of  the
Corporation or by vote of a majority of the outstanding voting securities of the
Corporation  (as  defined  by  the  Act).  This  Agreement  shall  automatically
terminate in the event of its assignment (as defined by the Act).
 
     6. MISCELLANEOUS.  This Agreement  shall be  governed by  and construed  in
accordance  with  the laws  of the  State of  New York.  Anything herein  to the
contrary notwithstanding, this Agreement shall  not be construed to require,  or
to  impose any duty upon  either of the parties, to  do anything in violation of
any applicable laws or regulations.
 
     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the Corporation  and  the Manager  have  caused  this
Agreement  to be executed by their duly authorized officers as of the date first
above written.
 
                                     SELIGMAN COMMON STOCK FUND, INC.

                                     BY ________________________________________
 
                                     J. & W. SELIGMAN & CO. INCORPORATED

                                     BY ________________________________________
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT B
 
   
     The  table below sets forth the net assets and the management fee rate paid
to the Manager  for 1994  for Seligman  Common Stock  Fund, Inc.  and the  other
investment companies which have investment objectives similar to Seligman Common
Stock Fund, Inc.:
    
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         1994 MANAGEMENT
                                                                                            FEE AS A
                                                                APPROXIMATE NET ASSETS    PERCENTAGE OF
                                                                AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1994   AVERAGE DAILY
NAME OF INVESTMENT COMPANY                                          (000'S OMITTED)        NET ASSETS
- --------------------------                                      -----------------------  ---------------
<S>                                                             <C>                      <C>
Seligman Capital Fund, Inc.                                           $   165,735               .53%
Seligman Capital Portfolio of Seligman Portfolios, Inc.                     5,942               .40*
Capital Series of Canada Life
  of America Series Fund, Inc. (the 'Capital Series')                   3,923,464               .25
Seligman Common Stock Fund, Inc.                                          525,372               .49
Seligman Common Stock Portfolio
  of Seligman Portfolios, Inc.                                             20,168               .40*
Seligman Communications and Information Fund, Inc.                        403,642               .75
Seligman Communications and Information Portfolio
  of Seligman Portfolios, Inc.                                                495               .75*
Seligman Frontier Fund, Inc.                                               81,958               .75
Seligman Frontier Portfolio of Seligman Portfolios, Inc.                      169               .75*
Seligman Growth Fund, Inc.                                                515,070               .49
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
* The Manager, at its discretion, waived all or a portion of its fee.
 
     Seligman  Capital Fund, Inc., Seligman Common Stock Fund, Inc. and Seligman
Growth Fund, Inc. pay the Manager for its services a management fee,  calculated
daily  and payable monthly, equal to a percentage of the aggregate net assets of
all of the investment  companies managed by the  Manager (the 'Fee Base').  This
percentage,  referred to  as the management  fee rate,  is .50% on  the first $4
billion of the  Fee Base,  declining to .44%  of the  Fee Base in  excess of  $8
billion for Seligman Common Stock Fund, Inc. and Seligman Growth Fund, Inc.; and
 .55%  on the first $4 billion of the Fee Base, declining to .45% of the Fee Base
in excess of $8 billion for Seligman Capital Fund, Inc. Seligman  Communications
and Information Fund, Inc. and Seligman Frontier Fund, Inc. each pay the Manager
a fee at the annual rate of .75% of such Fund's average daily net assets.
 
   
     Seligman  Portfolios, Inc. is the underlying investment vehicle for certain
variable annuity  insurance products.  The  Manager's fee  with respect  to  the
portfolios of Seligman Portfolios, Inc. is
    
 
                                       39
 
<PAGE>
calculated daily and payable monthly, equal to .40%, on an annual basis, of each
of  Seligman Capital Portfolio's  and Seligman Common  Stock Portfolio's average
daily  net  assets,  and  equal  to  .75%,  on  an  annual  basis,  of  Seligman
Communications  and  Information Portfolio's  and Seligman  Frontier Portfolio's
average daily net assets.
 
   
     The Capital  Series is  a variable  annuity investment  vehicle managed  by
Canada  Life  and  subadvised by  the  Manager.  Canada Life  receives  .50% for
managing the Capital Series, and from its fee pays the Manager.
    
 
     The Manager has proposed  to raise the management  fee rate for certain  of
the above investment companies as follows:
 
     Seligman Capital Fund, Inc. -- .75% of such Fund's average daily net assets
on  the first $1  billion of net assets,  .70% of such  Fund's average daily net
assets on the next $1 billion and  .65% of such Fund's average daily net  assets
in excess of $2 billion.
 
     Seligman  Common Stock Fund, Inc. -- .65%  of such Fund's average daily net
assets on the first $1 billion of net assets, .60% of such Fund's average  daily
net  assets on  the next $1  billion and .55%  of such Fund's  average daily net
assets in excess of $2 billion.
 
     Seligman Communications and Information Fund,  Inc. -- .90% of such  Fund's
average  daily net assets  on the first $3  billion of net  assets, .85% of such
Fund's average daily net assets on the  next $3 billion and .75% of such  Fund's
average daily net assets in excess of $6 billion.
 
     Seligman  Frontier  Fund, Inc.  -- .95%  of such  Fund's average  daily net
assets on the first $750 million of  net assets and .85% of such Fund's  average
daily net assets in excess of $750 million.
 
     Seligman  Growth Fund, Inc. -- .70% of such Fund's average daily net assets
on the first $1  billion of net  assets, .65% of such  Fund's average daily  net
assets  on the next $1 billion and .60%  of such Fund's average daily net assets
in excess of $2 billion.
 
                                       40

<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT C
      (LANGUAGE TO BE DELETED IS IN [BRACKETS] AND LANGUAGE TO BE ADDED IS
                                  UNDERLINED.)
                                  ----------
                             SUBADVISORY AGREEMENT
                        SELIGMAN COMMON STOCK FUND, INC.
 
     SUBADVISORY  AGREEMENT, dated  as of  May 19,  1994 and  amended January 1,
                                                         ----------------------
1996, between J. & W. SELIGMAN  & CO. INCORPORATED, a Delaware corporation  (the
- ----
'Manager')  and  SELIGMAN HENDERSON  CO., a  New  York general  partnership (the
'Subadviser').
 
     WHEREAS, the Manager has entered into a Management Agreement dated December
29, 1988,  as  amended April  10,  1991 and  January  1, 1996  (the  'Management
                                        ---------------------
Agreement')  with Seligman  Common Stock  Fund, Inc.  (the 'Fund'),  an open-end
diversified  management  investment  company  registered  under  the  Investment
Company  Act of 1940, as amended (the '1940 Act'), pursuant to which the Manager
will render investment management  services to the Fund,  and to administer  the
business and other affairs of the Fund; and
 
     WHEREAS, the Manager desires to retain the Subadviser to provide investment
management  services to the Fund,  and the Subadviser is  willing to render such
investment management services.
 
     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained  herein,
the parties hereto agree as follows:
 
     1.  DUTIES OF  THE SUBADVISER.  The Subadviser  will provide  the Fund with
investment management services with respect to assets of the Fund if, and to the
extent, designated by the Manager (such designated assets, 'Qualifying Assets').
Such  services  shall  include  investment  research,  advice  and  supervision,
determining  which securities  shall be  purchased or  sold by  the Fund, making
purchases and sales  of securities  on behalf of  the Fund  and determining  how
voting  and  other  rights with  respect  to  securities of  the  Fund  shall be
exercised, subject in each case to the control of the Board of Directors of  the
Fund and in accordance with the objectives, policies and principles set forth in
the  Registration Statement and Prospectus(es) of  the Fund and the requirements
of the 1940 Act and other applicable law.
 
     Subject to Section 36 of the 1940  Act, the Subadviser shall not be  liable
to  the Fund for any error of judgment or mistake of law or for any loss arising
out of any investment or for any act  or omission in the management of the  Fund
and  the  performance of  its  duties under  this  Agreement except  for willful
misfeasance, bad faith or gross negligence  in the performance of its duties  or
by  reason  of  reckless disregard  of  its  obligations and  duties  under this
Agreement.
 
                                       41
 
<PAGE>
     2. EXPENSES. The Subadviser shall pay all of its expenses arising from  the
performance of its obligations under Section 1.
 
     3. COMPENSATION
 
          (a) As  compensation for the services performed and the facilities and
              personnel provided by  the Subadviser pursuant  to Section 1,  the
              Manager  will pay to the Subadviser each month a fee, equal to the
              Applicable Percentage of the average monthly Net Qualifying Assets
              of the Fund.
 
          (b) As used herein:
 
              (1) The term 'Applicable Percentage' means the percentage fee rate
                                                         -----------------------
                  that the  Manager  receives  from the  Fund  pursuant  to  the
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                  Management  Agreement, which equals .65% of the Fund's average
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                  daily net assets  on the first  $1,000,000,000 of net  assets,
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                  .60%  of  the  Fund's average  daily  net assets  on  the next
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                  $1,000,000,000 and .55% of the Fund's average daily net assets
                  --------------------------------------------------------------
                  in excess  of  $2,000,000,000.  [the amount  (expressed  as  a
                  -----------------------------
                  percentage  and rounded  to the  nearest one  millionth of one
                  percent) obtained by dividing (i)  the Fee Amount by (ii)  the
                  Fee Base.]
 
              [(2) The term 'Fee Amount' means the sum of the following:
 
                   .50 of 1% on an annual basis of the first $4,000,000,000 of
                   Fee Base,
                   .48 of 1% on an annual basis of the next $2,000,000,000 of
                   Fee Base,
                   .46 of 1% on an annual basis of the next $2,000,000,000 of
                   Fee Base,
                   .44 of 1% on an annual basis of Fee Base in excess of
                   $8,000,000,000.
 
              (3) The  term 'Fee Base'  as of any  day means the  sum of the net
                  assets at the close of business on the previous day of each of
                  the investment  companies registered  under the  1940 Act  for
                  which  the  Manager  or  any  affiliated  company  acts  as an
                  investment adviser or manager (including the Fund).]
 
              (2)[(4)] The term  'Net Qualifying  Assets' means  the  Qualifying
              ---
                       Assets  less  related  liabilities as  designated  by the
                       Manager.
 
          (c) Average monthly Net Qualifying Assets shall be determined, for any
              month, by taking the  average of the value  of the Net  Qualifying
              Assets  as of the (i) opening of business on the first day of such
              month and (ii) close of business on the last day of such month.
 
          (d) If the Subadviser shall serve hereunder for less than the whole of
              any month, the fee hereunder shall be prorated.
 
                                       42
 
<PAGE>
     4.  PURCHASE  AND  SALE  OF  SECURITIES.  The  Subadviser  shall   purchase
securities  from  or through  and sell  securities to  or through  such persons,
brokers or dealers as  the Subadviser shall deem  appropriate in order to  carry
out the policy with respect to allocation of portfolio transactions as set forth
in  the Registration Statement and Prospectus(es) of the Fund or as the Board of
Directors of the Fund may direct from  time to time. In providing the Fund  with
investment management and supervision, it is recognized that the Subadviser will
seek  the most favorable price and  execution, and, consistent with such policy,
may give consideration to the research, statistical and other services furnished
by brokers or dealers to the Subadviser for its use, to the general attitude  of
brokers or dealers toward investment companies and their support of them, and to
such  other considerations as the  Board of Directors of  the Fund may direct or
authorize from time to time.
 
     Notwithstanding the above, it  is understood that it  is desirable for  the
Fund  that  the Subadviser  have access  to  supplemental investment  and market
research and  security and  economic analysis  provided by  brokers who  execute
brokerage  transactions  at a  higher  cost to  the  Fund than  may  result when
allocating brokerage to other brokers on the basis of seeking the most favorable
price and execution. Therefore, the Subadviser is authorized to place orders for
the purchase and sale of  securities of the Fund  with such brokers, subject  to
review  by the Fund's Board  of Directors from time to  time with respect to the
extent and continuation  of this practice.  It is understood  that the  services
provided  by such brokers may be useful to the Subadviser in connection with its
services to other clients as well as the Fund.
 
     If, in connection with purchases and sales of securities for the Fund,  the
Subadviser  may, without material risk, arrange to receive a soliciting dealer's
fee or other underwriter's  or dealer's discount  or commission, the  Subadviser
shall,  unless otherwise directed by the Board  of Directors of the Fund, obtain
such fee, discount  or commission  and the amount  thereof shall  be applied  to
reduce  the compensation to be received by  the Subadviser pursuant to Section 3
hereof.
 
     Nothing herein  shall prohibit  the Board  of Directors  of the  Fund  from
approving  the  payment by  the Fund  of additional  compensation to  others for
consulting services, supplemental research and security and economic analysis.
 
     5. TERM  OF AGREEMENT.  This Agreement  shall continue  in full  force  and
effect  until  December 31, 1996[5],  and  from  year to year thereafter if such
                               -
continuance is approved  in the  manner required  by the  1940 Act,  and if  the
Subadviser shall not have notified the Manager in writing at least 60 days prior
to  such date or  prior to December 31  of any year thereafter  that it does not
desire such continuance. This Agreement may  be terminated at any time,  without
payment  of penalty by the Fund, on 60 days' written notice to the Subadviser by
vote of the Board of
 
                                       43
 
<PAGE>
Directors of  the Fund  or  by vote  of a  majority  of the  outstanding  voting
securities  of  the Fund  (as  defined by  the  1940 Act).  This  Agreement will
automatically terminate in the event of  its assignment (as defined by the  1940
Act) or upon the termination of the Management Agreement.
 
     6.  AMENDMENTS. This  Agreement may  be amended  by consent  of the parties
hereto provided that the consent of the Fund is obtained in accordance with  the
requirements of the 1940 Act.
 
     7.  MISCELLANEOUS. This  Agreement shall  be governed  by and  construed in
accordance with  the laws  of the  State of  New York.  Anything herein  to  the
contrary  notwithstanding, this Agreement shall not  be construed to require, or
to impose any duty upon  either of the parties, to  do anything in violation  of
any applicable laws or regulations.
 
     IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the  Manager and  the  Subadviser  have  caused this
Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized officers as of the date  first
above written.
 
                                     J. & W. SELIGMAN & CO. INCORPORATED

                                     BY ________________________________________
 
                                     SELIGMAN HENDERSON CO.

                                     BY ________________________________________
 
                                       44

<PAGE>
                                   EXHIBIT D
 
     The  table below sets forth the net  assets and the subadvisory fee paid by
the Manager to  the Subadviser for  1994 with respect  to Seligman Common  Stock
Fund,  Inc. and the other investment  companies which have investment objectives
similar to the Seligman Common Stock Fund, Inc.:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         ANNUALIZED
                                                                                      1994 SUBADVISORY
                                                                 APPROXIMATE              FEE AS A
                                                            NET QUALIFYING ASSETS       PERCENTAGE OF
                                                           AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1994     AVERAGE MONTHLY
NAME OF INVESTMENT COMPANY                                     (000'S OMITTED)      NET QUALIFYING ASSETS
- --------------------------                                 -----------------------  ---------------------
<S>                                                        <C>                      <C>
Seligman Capital Fund, Inc.                                        $     0                   0.00%
Seligman Common Stock Fund, Inc.                                    47,198                   0.49
Seligman Communications and Information Fund, Inc.                       0                   0.00
Seligman Frontier Fund, Inc.                                             0                   0.00
Seligman Growth Fund, Inc.                                          49,578                   0.49
</TABLE>
 
     For each of Seligman Capital Fund,  Inc., Seligman Common Stock Fund,  Inc.
and  Seligman Growth Fund, Inc. the Manager pays the Subadviser for its services
a subadvisory fee, calculated and payable monthly, equal to a percentage of  the
average monthly Net Qualifying Assets of each Fund. This percentage, referred to
as  the subadvisory fee rate, is  .50% on the first $4  billion of the Fee Base,
declining to .44% of the  Fee Base in excess of  $8 billion for Seligman  Common
Stock  Fund,  Inc. and  Seligman Growth  Fund, Inc.;  and .55%  on the  first $4
billion of the  Fee Base,  declining to .45%  of the  Fee Base in  excess of  $8
billion  for Seligman Capital Fund,  Inc. The Fee Base  equals the aggregate net
assets of all of the investment  companies managed by the Manager. With  respect
to  Seligman  Communications and  Information Fund,  Inc. and  Seligman Frontier
Fund, Inc. the Manager pays the Subadviser a  fee at the annual rate of .75%  of
such fund's average monthly Net Qualifying Assets.
 
     The  Manager has proposed to raise the  subadvisory fee rate applied to the
average monthly Net Qualifying Assets for each of the above investment companies
to be calculated as follows:
 
     Seligman Capital Fund, Inc. -- .75% of such Fund's average daily net assets
on the first $1  billion of net  assets, .70% of such  Fund's average daily  net
assets  on the next $1 billion and .65%  of such Fund's average daily net assets
in excess of $2 billion.
 
     Seligman Common Stock Fund, Inc. --  .65% of such Fund's average daily  net
assets  on the first $1 billion of net assets, .60% of such Fund's average daily
net assets on  the next $1  billion and .55%  of such Fund's  average daily  net
assets in excess of $2 billion.
 
                                       45
 
<PAGE>
     Seligman  Communications and Information Fund, Inc.  -- .90% of such Fund's
average daily net assets  on the first  $3 billion of net  assets, .85% of  such
Fund's  average daily net assets on the next  $3 billion and .75% of such Fund's
average daily net assets in excess of $6 billion.
 
     Seligman Frontier  Fund, Inc.  -- .95%  of such  Fund's average  daily  net
assets  on the first $750 million of net  assets and .85% of such Fund's average
daily net assets in excess of $750 million.
 
     Seligman Growth Fund, Inc. -- .70% of such Fund's average daily net  assets
on  the first $1  billion of net assets,  .65% of such  Fund's average daily net
assets on the next $1 billion and  .60% of such Fund's average daily net  assets
in excess of $2 billion.
 
                                       46

<PAGE>
 
                                                            SELIGMAN
                                                          COMMON STOCK
                                                           FUND, INC.
 
                                                    Notice of Special Meeting
                                                         of Shareholders
                                                               and
                                                         Proxy Statement
 
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                   Time: December 12, 1995
                                                     9:00 A.M.
                                                 -------------------------------
 
                                                   Place: Grand Hyatt Hotel
                                                      42nd Street and
                                                        Lexington Avenue
                                                      New York, New York 10017
 
                                                  Please date, fill in and sign
                                                  the  enclosed  form  of Proxy
                                                  and mail it  in the  enclosed
                                                  return   envelope   which re-
                                                  quires  no postage if  mailed
                                                  in the United States.
 
                                    [Logo]
 
                        SELIGMAN COMMON STOCK FUND, INC.
                                   Managed by
 
                                   [Logo]
 
                             J. & W. SELIGMAN & CO.
                                  INCORPORATED
                        INVESTMENT MANAGERS AND ADVISORS
                                ESTABLISHED 1864
                      100 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017

                           STATEMENT OF DIFFERENCES
                 The dagger symbol shall be expressed as .... 'D'

<PAGE>
                                 APPENDIX 1
                                 PROXY CARD
PROXY
                        SELIGMAN COMMON STOCK FUND, INC.
                      100 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
 
The undersigned, revoking previous proxies, acknowledges receipt of the Notice
of Meeting and Proxy Statement for the Special Meeting of Shareholders of
SELIGMAN COMMON STOCK FUND, INC., to be held December 12, 1995 and appoints
JOHN E. MEROW, WILLIAM C. MORRIS and BRIAN T. ZINO (and each of them) proxies,
with power of substitution, to attend the Special Meeting (and any adjournments
thereof) and vote all shares the undersigned is entitled to vote upon the
matters indicated below and on the reverse side and on any other business that
may properly come before the Meeting.
 
THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED BY THE
UNDERSIGNED. IF NO INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN, YOUR PROXIES WILL VOTE FOR THE
ELECTION OF THE NOMINEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND FOR ALL PROPOSALS.

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE FOR EACH OF 
                  THE NOMINEES AND FOR ALL PROPOSALS.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<S>                                           <C>                                           <C>
1.   ELECTION OF DIRECTORS                    / /  FOR all nominees                         / /  WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE
                                                   (except as written on the line below).        for all nominees listed below.
</TABLE>

     NOMINEES:  Fred E. Brown, John R. Galvin, Alice S. Ilchman, Frank A. 
                McPherson, John E. Merow, Betsy S. Michel, William C. Morris, 
                James C. Pitney, James Q. Riordan, Ronald T. Schroeder, 
                Robert L. Shafer, James N. Whitson, Brian T. Zino

     (INSTRUCTIONS: To withhold authority to vote for any individual nominee 
     write the nominee's name on the line below.)
 
     --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT.  PLEASE COMPLETE, SIGN ON THE REVERSE SIDE AND RETURN
                         THIS CARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
                       MARK EACH VOTE WITH X IN THE BOX.
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                       <C>         <C>             <C>
2.  Ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Auditors.                   / /  FOR     / /  AGAINST    / /  ABSTAIN

3.  Approval of amendments to the Management Agreement to increase the management         / /  FOR     / /  AGAINST    / /  ABSTAIN
    fee payable by the Fund.   

4.  Approval of amendments to the Subadvisory Agreement to increase the subadvisory       / /  FOR     / /  AGAINST    / /  ABSTAIN
    fee payable by the Manager. (Adoption of Proposal No. 4 is conditioned upon 
    shareholder approval of Proposal No. 3.)

5.  Approval of the amendment of the Fund's fundamental investment policy to increase     / /  FOR     / /  AGAINST    / /  ABSTAIN
    the limitation on borrowing to 15% of total assets.

6.  Approval of the amendment of the Fund's fundamental investment policy regarding       / /  FOR     / /  AGAINST    / /  ABSTAIN
    mortgaging or pledging of its assets.

7.  Approval of the amendment of the Fund's fundamental investment policy prohibiting     / /  FOR     / /  AGAINST    / /  ABSTAIN
    investments in real estate investment trusts.
 
</TABLE>

                                                 Dated _________________ , 1995

                                                 ______________________________ 
                                                 Signature
 
                                                 ______________________________ 
                                                 Signature (if jointly held)
  
                                                 Please sign exactly as your
                                                 name(s) appear(s) on this
                                                 proxy. Only one signature is
                                                 required in case of a joint
                                                 account. When signing in a
                                                 representative capacity,
                                                 please give title.
 
          THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS






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