CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND INC
485BPOS, 1996-08-30
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549

                                    FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933               X
                                                                    -----

         File No. 2-42556:

         Pre-Effective Amendment No.____

         Post-Effective Amendment No._65_                             X
                                                                    -----
                                     and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940       X
                                                                    -----

         File No. 811-2247:

         Amendment No._65_

         CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND, INC.
         (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

         4500 Main Street, Kansas City, MO  64141-6200
         (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

         Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code:  415-965-8300

         Douglas A. Paul
         General Counsel
         1665 Charleston Road, Mountain View, CA  94043
         (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: Immediately, upon effectiveness
(first offered 10/13/72)

It is proposed that this filing become effective:

   _____  immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
   __X__  on September 3, 1996 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
   _____  60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 485
   _____  on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a) of Rule 485 
   _____  75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a) (2) of Rule 485 
   _____  on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Registrant has elected to register an indefinite number of shares of beneficial
interest under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the
Investment Company Act of 1940. On May 16, 1996, the Registrant filed a Rule
24f-2 Notice on Form 24f-2 with respect to its fiscal year ended March 31, 1996.

<PAGE>
                         CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND, INC.
                     1933 Act Post-Effective Amendment No.65
                            1940 Act Amendment No. 65

                                    FORM N-1A
                              CROSS-REFERENCE SHEET


PART A:  PROSPECTUS

ITEM      PROSPECTUS CAPTION

1         Cover Page

2         Transaction and Operating Expense Table

3         Financial Highlights, Performance

4         Investment Management, Further Information About the Funds, Investment
          Objectives of the Funds, Information About Investment Policies of the
          Funds, Risk Factors and Investment Techniques, Other Investment
          Practices

5         Investment Management

5A        Not Applicable

6         Further Information About the Funds, How to Redeem Shares, Cover Page,
          Distributions, Taxes

7         Cover Page, Distribution of Fund Shares, How to Open an Account, Share
          Price, Transfer and Administrative Services

8         How to Redeem Shares, Transfer and Administrative Services

9         Not Applicable



PART B:  STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

ITEM      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CAPTION

10        Cover Page

11        Table of Contents

12        Not Applicable

13        Investment Policies and Techniques, Investment Restrictions, Portfolio
          Transactions

14        Trustee and Officers

15        Additional Purchase and Redemption Information, Trustees and Officers

16        Investment Advisory Services, Administrative and Transfer Agent 
          Services, Expense Limitation Agreement, About the Trust

17        Portfolio Transactions

18        About the Trust

19        Additional Purchase and Redemption Information, Valuation of Portfolio
          Securities

20        Taxes

21        Additional Purchase and Redemption Information

22        Performance

23        Cover Page

<PAGE>
                                     BENHAM
                                 U.S. Treasury &
                                Government Funds
   
                                   Prospectus


                                  SEPTEMBER 3,
                                      1996


                         BENHAM GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST
                         CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND, INC.
                       CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND II, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      The BENHAM CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND, BENHAM CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND II,
BENHAM GOVERNMENT AGENCY FUND, BENHAM SHORT-TERM TREASURY AND AGENCY FUND,
BENHAM TREASURY NOTE FUND, BENHAM LONG-TERM TREASURY AND AGENCY FUND, BENHAM
ADJUSTABLE RATE GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND and BENHAM GNMA INCOME FUND (the
"Funds") constitute the Benham U.S. Treasury & Government Funds, part of the
Twentieth Century family of funds, a family that includes 66 no-load mutual
funds covering a variety of investment opportunities. Eight of the funds are
described in this Prospectus. Their investment objectives are listed on pages 2
and 3 of this Prospectus. The other funds are described in separate
prospectuses.

NO-LOAD MUTUAL FUNDS

     Twentieth Century offers retail investors a full line of no-load funds,
investments that have no sales charges or commissions. The Funds offered by this
Prospectus have no 12b-1 plan or other deferred sales charges.

     INVESTMENTS IN THE FUNDS ARE NOT INSURED OR GUARANTEED BY THE U.S.
GOVERNMENT OR ANY OTHER AGENCY. THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT THE MONEY MARKET
FUNDS WILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A $1.00 SHARE PRICE.

     This Prospectus gives you information about the Funds that you should know
before investing. Please read this Prospectus carefully and retain it for future
reference. Additional information is included in the Statement of Additional
Information dated September 3, 1996 and filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission ("SEC"). It is incorporated in this Prospectus by reference. To
obtain a copy without charge, call or write:

                         Twentieth Century Mutual Funds
                       4500 Main Street o P.O. Box 419200
                   Kansas City, MO 64141-6200 o 1-800-345-2021
                        International calls: 816-531-5575
                     Telecommunications Device for the Deaf:
                   1-800-634-4113 o In Missouri: 816-753-1865
                   Internet: http://www.twentieth-century.com

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
    
<PAGE>

   
                       INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES OF THE FUNDS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   MONEY MARKET FUNDS

   BENHAM CAPITAL
   PRESERVATION FUND

   (formerly known as Capital Preservation Fund) is a money market fund which
   seeks maximum safety and liquidity. Its secondary objective is to seek to pay
   shareholders the highest rate of return on their investment in the Fund
   consistent with safety and liquidity. The Fund intends to pursue its
   investment objectives by investing exclusively in short-term U.S. Treasury
   securities guaranteed by the direct full faith and credit pledge of the U.S.
   government and maintaining a dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity of
   not more than 60 days.

   BENHAM CAPITAL
   PRESERVATION FUND II

   (formerly known as Capital Preservation Fund II) is a money market fund which
   seeks maximum safety and liquidity. Its secondary objective is to seek to pay
   its shareholders the highest rate of return on their investment in the Fund
   consistent with safety and liquidity. The Fund intends to pursue its
   investment objectives by investing primarily in repurchase agreements
   collateralized by securities that are backed by the full faith and credit of
   the U.S. government. Such collateral may include U.S. Treasury bills, notes,
   and bonds or mortgage-backed Ginnie Mae certificates.

   BENHAM GOVERNMENT AGENCY FUND

   is a money market fund which seeks to provide the highest rate of current
   return on its investments, consistent with safety of principal and
   maintenance of liquidity, by investing exclusively in short-term obligations
   of the U.S. government and its agencies and instrumentalities, the income
   from which is exempt from state taxes.

   AN INVESTMENT IN THE MONEY MARKET FUNDS LISTED ABOVE IS NEITHER INSURED NOR
   GUARANTEED BY THE U.S. GOVERNMENT AND THERE CAN BE NO ASSURANCE THAT THE
   MONEY MARKET FUNDS WILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A STABLE NET ASSET VALUE PER
   SHARE.

   THE MINIMUM INITIAL INVESTMENT FOR ALL OF THE ABOVE FUNDS IS $2,500 ($1,000
   FOR IRA ACCOUNTS). SEE "HOW TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT," PAGE 22.

   THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT THE FUNDS WILL ACHIEVE THEIR RESPECTIVE INVESTMENT
   OBJECTIVES.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   NO PERSON IS AUTHORIZED BY THE FUNDS TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR MAKE ANY
   REPRESENTATION OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN OTHER
   PRINTED OR WRITTEN MATERIAL ISSUED BY OR FOR THE FUNDS, AND YOU SHOULD NOT
   RELY ON ANY OTHER INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION.
    


                                       2

   
                       INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES OF THE FUNDS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   U.S. TREASURY AND AGENCY FUNDS

   BENHAM SHORT-TERM TREASURY
   AND AGENCY FUND

   seeks to earn and distribute the highest level of current income exempt from
   state income taxes as is consistent with preservation of capital. The Fund
   intends to pursue its investment objectives by investing exclusively in
   securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury and agencies or
   instrumentalities of the U.S. government and maintaining a weighted average
   portfolio maturity ranging from 13 months to 3 years.

   BENHAM TREASURY NOTE FUND

   seeks to earn and distribute the highest level of current income consistent
   with the conservation of assets and the safety provided by U.S. Treasury
   bills, notes, and bonds. The Fund intends to pursue its investment objectives
   by investing primarily in U.S. Treasury notes, which carry the direct full
   faith and credit pledge of the U.S. government and maintaining a weighted
   average portfolio maturity which ranges from 13 months to 10 years.

   BENHAM LONG-TERM TREASURY
   AND AGENCY FUND

   seeks to provide a consistent and high level of current income exempt from
   state taxes. The Fund intends to pursue its investment objective by investing
   exclusively in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury and
   agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government and maintaining a
   weighted average portfolio maturity ranging from 20 to 30 years.


   MORTGAGE SECURITIES FUNDS

   BENHAM ADJUSTABLE RATE
   GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND

   seeks to provide investors with a high level of current income, consistent
   with stability of principal. The Fund intends to pursue its investment
   objective by investing at least 65% of the Fund's total assets in adjustable
   rate mortgage securities (ARMs) and other securities collateralized by or
   representing interests in mortgages (collectively, "mortgage-backed
   securities").

   BENHAM GNMA INCOME FUND

   seeks to provide a high level of current income consistent with safety of
   principal and maintenance of liquidity by investing primarily in
   mortgage-backed Ginnie Mae certificates.

   THE MINIMUM INITIAL INVESTMENT FOR ALL OF THE ABOVE FUNDS IS $2,500 ($1,000
   FOR IRA ACCOUNTS). SEE "HOW TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT," PAGE 22.

   THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT THE FUNDS WILL ACHIEVE THEIR RESPECTIVE INVESTMENT
   OBJECTIVES.
    
                                       3

   
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

              Transaction and Operating Expense Table...........5
              Financial Highlights..............................6
      
                         INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUNDS

              Investment Policies of the Funds...................14
                 The Money Market Funds..........................14
                   Benham Capital Preservation Fund..............14
                   Benham Capital Preservation Fund II...........14
                   Benham Government Agency Fund.................15
                 The U.S. Treasury & Agency Funds................15
                   Benham Short-Term Treasury and                  
                       Agency Fund...............................15
                   Benham Treasury Note Fund.....................15
                   Benham Long-Term Treasury and                   
                       Agency Fund...............................16
                 The Mortgage Securities Funds...................16
                   Benham ARM Fund...............................16
                   Benham GNMA Income Fund.......................17
              Risk Factors and Investment Techniques.............17
                 U.S. Government Securities......................17
                 Mortgage-Backed Securities......................18
                 Repurchase Agreements...........................19
              Other Investment Practices,                          
                 Their Characteristics and Risks.................20
                 Portfolio Turnover..............................20
                 When-Issued and Forward Commitment                
                   Agreements....................................20
                 Cash Management.................................20
                 Other Techniques................................20
              Performance Advertising............................20
              
            HOW TO INVEST WITH TWENTIETH CENTURY AND THE BENHAM GROUP

              How to Open an Account.............................22
                 By Mail.........................................22
                 By Wire.........................................22
                 By Exchange.....................................22
                 In Person.......................................23
              Subsequent Investments.............................23
                 By Mail.........................................23
                 By Telephone....................................23
                 By Wire.........................................23
                 In Person.......................................23
              Automatic Investment Plan..........................23
              How to Exchange from                                 
                 One Account to Another..........................23
                 By Mail.........................................24
                 By Telephone....................................24
              How to Redeem Shares...............................24
                 By Mail.........................................24
                 By Telephone....................................24
                 By Check-A-Month................................24
                 Other Automatic Redemptions.....................24
              Redemption Proceeds................................24
                 By Check........................................24
                 By Wire and ACH.................................24
              Redemption of Shares in                              
                 Low-Balance Accounts............................25
              Signature Guarantee................................25
              Special Investor Services..........................25
                 Automated Information Line......................25
                 CheckWriting....................................25
                 Open Order Service..............................26
                 Tax-Qualified Retirement Plans..................26
              Important Policies Regarding Your                    
                 Investments.....................................26
              Reports to Shareholders............................27
              Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans and              
                 Institutional Accounts..........................28
              
                     ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW

              Share Price........................................29  
                 When Share Price is Determined..................29  
                 How Share Price is Determined...................29  
                 Where to Find Information About Share Price.....29  
              Distributions......................................30  
              Taxes..............................................30  
                 Tax-Deferred Accounts...........................30  
                 Taxable Accounts................................30  
              Management.........................................31  
                 Investment Management...........................31  
                 Code of Ethics..................................33  
                 Transfer and Administrative Services............33  
                 Distribution of Fund Shares.....................33  
                 Expenses........................................34  
              Further Information About The Funds................34  
                  

                                       4


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
                     TRANSACTION AND OPERATING EXPENSE TABLE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                 Benham 
                                    Benham        Benham                      Benham                 Benham     Adjustable  Benham
                                    Capital       Capital        Benham     Short-Term    Benham    Long-Term   Rate Gov't.  GNMA
                                  Preservation  Preservation   Government  Treasury and  Treasury Treasury and  Securities  Income
SHAREHOLDER                          Fund         Fund II      Agency Fund  Agency Fund  Note Fund Agency Fund     Fund      Fund

<S>                                   <C>          <C>           <C>         <C>           <C>       <C>           <C>       <C>
TRANSACTION EXPENSES:
  Maximum Sales Load Imposed
   on Purchases                       none          none          none        none         none       none         none      none
  Maximum Sales Load Imposed
   on Reinvested Dividends            none          none          none        none         none       none         none      none
Deferred Sales Load                   none          none          none        none         none       none         none      none
Redemption Fee(1)                     none          none          none        none         none       none         none      none
Exchange Fee                          none          none          none        none         none       none         none      none

ANNUAL FUND
OPERATING EXPENSES:(2)
  (as a percentage of net assets)
  Management Fees
   (net of expense limitation)        .27%          .43%          .22%        .21%         .28%       .17%         .29%      .28%
  12b-1 Fees                          none          none          none        none         none       none         none      none
  Other Expenses                      .24%          .30%          .29%        .39%         .25%       .43%         .31%      .30%
  Total Fund Operating Expenses       .51%          .73%          .51%        .60%         .53%       .60%         .60%      .58%

Example: You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment,
assuming a 5% annual return and redemption at the end of each time period:

                           1 year    $  5         $  7          $  5         $  6        $  5        $  6         $  6      $  6
                          3 years      16           23            16           19          17          19           19        19
                          5 years      29           41            29           33          30          33           33        32
                         10 years      64           91            64           75          66          75           75        73
</TABLE>

(1)Redemption proceeds sent by wire are subject to a $10 processing fee.

(2)Benham Management Corporation (the "Manager") has agreed to limit each Fund's
   total operating expenses to specified percentages of each Fund's average
   daily net assets. The agreement provides that the Manager may recover amounts
   absorbed on behalf of the Fund during the preceding 11 months if, and to the
   extent that, for any given month, Fund expenses were less than the expense
   limit in effect at that time. The current expense limits for the Funds are as
   follows: Benham Capital Preservation Fund, .53%; Benham Capital Preservation
   Fund II, .73%; and .60% for the remaining Benham U.S. Government & Treasury
   Funds. Amounts which are paid by unaffiliated third parties do not apply to
   these expense limitations. These expense limitations are subject to annual
   renewal in June. If the expense limitations were not in effect, the
   Management Fee, Other Expenses and Total Fund Operating Expenses for the
   following Funds would be as follows, respectively: Benham Capital
   Preservation Fund II, .46%, .30% and .76%; Benham Government Agency Fund,
   .27%, .29% and .56%; Benham Short-Term Treasury and Agency Fund, .27%, .39%
   and .66%; and Benham Long-Term Treasury and Agency Fund, .27%, .43% and .70%.

   Each Fund pays the Manager management fees equal to an annualized percentage
of each Fund's average daily net assets. Other expenses include administrative
and transfer agent fees paid to Twentieth Century Services, Inc.
 
   The purpose of the above table is to help you understand the various costs
and expenses that you, as a shareholder, will bear directly or indirectly in
connection with an investment in the shares of the Funds. The example set forth
above assumes reinvestment of all dividends and distributions and uses a 5%
annual rate of return as required by SEC regulations.

   NEITHER THE 5% RATE OF RETURN NOR THE EXPENSES SHOWN ABOVE SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED INDICATIONS OF PAST OR FUTURE RETURNS AND EXPENSES. ACTUAL RETURNS
AND EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN.
    

                                       5

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
BENHAM CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND

     The Financial Highlights for each of the periods presented have been
audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent auditors. Their report on these
Financial Highlights appears in each Fund's annual report to shareholders which
is incorporated by reference into the Statement of Additional Information. The
annual report contains additional performance information and will be made
available upon request and without charge.

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years ended March 31(except as noted)
    
                             1996      1995     1994      1993+     1992      1991     1990      1989     1988      1987
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PER-SHARE DATA
- --------------
<S>                         <C>        <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>       <C> 
NET ASSET VALUE AT
BEGINNING OF PERIOD..       $1.00      1.00     1.00      1.00      1.00      1.00     1.00      1.00     1.00      1.00

  Income From
  Investment Operations
  Net Investment Income     .0521     .0424    .0259     .0134     .0382     .0603    .0750    .0800     .0608     .0531

  Less Distributions
  Dividends from Net
  Investment Income..      (.0521)   (.0424)  (.0259)   (.0134)   (.0382)   (.0603)  (.0750)   (.0800)  (.0608)   (.0531)
                            -----     -----    -----     -----     -----     -----    -----     -----    -----     -----
NET ASSET VALUE AT
END OF PERIOD........       $1.00      1.00     1.00      1.00      1.00      1.00     1.00      1.00     1.00      1.00
                            =====     =====    =====     =====     =====     =====    =====     =====    =====     =====
TOTAL RETURN*........        5.21%     4.31%    2.63%     1.35%     3.88%     6.27%    7.77%     8.27%    6.30%     5.48%
- ------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS
- ----------------------------

  Net Assets at End of Period
  (in millions)......      $3,078     2,883    2,787     2,943     3,046     3,376    3,099     2,737    2,187     1,793

  Ratio of Expenses to
  Average  Daily
  Net Assets++.......         .51%      .50%     .51%      .50%**    .51%      .52%     .56%      .57%     .59%      .63%

  Ratio of Net Investment
  Income to Average Daily
  Net Assets++.......        5.07%     4.24%    2.59%     2.68%**   3.82%     6.03%    7.50%     8.00%    6.08%     5.31%

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

+ The Fund's fiscal year-end was changed from September 30 to March 31 beginning with the period ended March 31, 1993, 
  resulting in a six-month period in 1993.

++The ratios for the year ended March 31, 1996 include expenses paid through expense offset arrangements. 

* Total return figures assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions and are not annualized.

**Annualized.

</TABLE>

                                       6

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (CONTINUED)
BENHAM CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND II

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years ended March 31(except as noted)
    
                             1996      1995     1994      1993+     1992      1991     1990      1989     1988      1987
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PER-SHARE DATA
- --------------
<S>                         <C>        <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>       <C> 
NET ASSET VALUE AT
BEGINNING OF PERIOD..       $1.00      1.00     1.00      1.00      1.00      1.00     1.00      1.00     1.00      1.00

  Income From
  Investment Operations
  Net Investment Income     .0515     .0406    .0237     .0120     .0341     .0591    .0764     .0834    .0626     .0553

  Less Distributions
  Dividends from Net
  Investment Income..      (.0515)   (.0406)  (.0237)   (.0120)   (.0341)   (.0591)  (.0764)   (.0834)  (.0626)   (.0553)
                            -----     -----    -----     -----     -----     -----    -----     -----    -----     -----
NET ASSET VALUE AT
END OF PERIOD........       $1.00      1.00     1.00      1.00      1.00      1.00     1.00      1.00     1.00      1.00
                            =====     =====    =====     =====     =====     =====    =====     =====    =====     =====
TOTAL RETURN*........        5.15%     4.17%    2.40%     1.21%     3.42%     6.07%    7.91%     8.64%    6.46%     5.68%
- ------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS
- ----------------------------

  Net Assets at End of Period
  (in millions)......        $246       262      283       314       340       475      618       708      538       465

  Ratio of Expenses to
  Average Daily
  Net Assets++.......         .76%      .75%     .75%      .75%**    .74%      .70%     .69%      .71%     .73%      .73%

  Ratio of Net Investment
  Income to Average
  Daily Net Assets++.        5.03%     4.06%    2.37%     2.40%**   3.41%     5.91%    7.64%     8.34%    6.26%     5.53%

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

+ The Fund's fiscal year-end was changed from September 30 to March 31 beginning with the period ended March 31, 1993, 
  resulting in a six-month period in 1993.

++The ratios for the year ended March 31, 1996 include expenses paid through expense offset arrangements. 

* Total return figures assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions and are not annualized.

**Annualized.
</TABLE>

                                       7


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (CONTINUED)
BENHAM GOVERNMENT AGENCY FUND

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years ended March 31(except as noted)
    
                                                     1996     1995      1994     1993      1992     1991      1990+
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PER-SHARE DATA
- --------------
<S>                                                  <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>       <C> 
NET ASSET VALUE AT  BEGINNING OF PERIOD........      $1.00     1.00      1.00     1.00      1.00     1.00      1.00

  Income From Investment Operations
  Net Investment Income........................      .0535    .0435     .0265    .0304     .0517    .0742     .0264

  Less Distributions
  Dividends from Net Investment Income.........     (.0535)  (.0435)   (.0265)  (.0304)   (.0517)  (.0742)   (.0264)
                                                     -----    -----     -----    -----     -----    -----     -----
NET ASSET VALUE AT END OF PERIOD...............      $1.00     1.00      1.00     1.00      1.00     1.00      1.00
                                                     =====    =====     =====    =====     =====    =====     =====
TOTAL RETURN*..................................       5.35%    4.47%     2.69%    3.07%     5.29%    7.97%     2.65%
- ------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS
- ----------------------------

  Net Assets at End of Period (in millions)....       $503      462       562      646       906    1,074        62

  Ratio of Expenses to Average Daily Net Assets++      .51%     .50%      .50%     .50%      .30%       0%        0%

  Ratio of Net Investment Income to
  Average Daily Net Assets++...................       5.20%    4.35%     2.65%    3.04%     5.17%    7.42%     8.25%**

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

+ From December 5, 1989 (commencement of operations) through March 31, 1990.

++ The ratios for the year ended March 31, 1996 include expenses paid through expense offset arrangements. 

* Total return figures assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions and are not annualized.

**Annualized.
</TABLE>
                                       8


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (CONTINUED)
BENHAM SHORT-TERM TREASURY AND AGENCY FUND

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years ended March 31(except as noted)
    
                                                                        1996     1995      1994     1993+
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PER-SHARE DATA
- --------------
<S>                                                                    <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>  
NET ASSET VALUE AT  BEGINNING OF PERIOD............................  . $9.73     9.86     10.04    10.00

  Income From Investment Operations
  Net Investment Income.............................................     .53      .50       .36      .25
  Net Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments.........     .11     (.13)     (.14)     .04
                                                                       -----    -----     -----    -----
   Total Income From Investment Operations..........................     .64      .37       .22      .29
                                                                       -----    -----     -----    -----
  Less Distributions
  Dividends from Net Investment Income .............................    (.53)    (.50)     (.36)    (.25)
  Distributions from Net Realized Capital Gains.....................       0        0      (.03)       0
  Distributions in Excess of Net Realized Capital Gains.............       0        0      (.01)       0
                                                                       -----    -----     -----    -----
   Total Distributions..............................................    (.53)    (.50)     (.40)    (.25)
                                                                       -----    -----     -----    -----
NET ASSET VALUE AT END OF PERIOD....................................   $9.84     9.73      9.86    10.04
                                                                       =====    =====     =====    =====
TOTAL RETURN*.......................................................    6.71%    3.85%     2.16%    2.79%
- ------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS
- ----------------------------

  Net Assets at End of Period (in millions).........................     $36       56        25       15
  Ratio of Expenses to Average Daily Net Assets++...................     .67%     .67%      .58%       0%
  Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Daily Net Assets++......    5.39%    5.22%     3.53%    4.50%**
  Portfolio Turnover Rate...........................................  224.03%  140.82%   261.61%  157.79%

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

+  From September 8, 1992 (commencement of operations) through March 31, 1993.

++ The ratios for the year ended March 31, 1996 include expenses paid through expense offset arrangements. 

*  Total return figures assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions and are not annualized.

** Annualized.

</TABLE>
                                       9

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (CONTINUED)
BENHAM TREASURY NOTE FUND

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years ended March 31
    
                            1996      1995     1994      1993     1992      1991     1990      1989     1988      1987
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PER-SHARE DATA
- --------------
<S>                         <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>  
NET ASSET VALUE AT
BEGINNING OF PERIOD..       $9.99     10.18    10.73     10.52    10.23     9.87     9.63      10.11    10.91     11.97

  Income From
  Investment Operations
  Net Investment Income       .58       .53      .48       .56      .69      .75      .77        .76      .75       .71

  Net Realized and
  Unrealized Gains
  (Losses) on Investments     .25      (.19)    (.27)      .69      .29      .36      .24       (.49)    (.60)     (.08)
                            -----     -----    -----     -----    -----    -----    -----      -----    -----     -----
   Total Income From
   Investment Operations      .83       .34      .21      1.25      .98     1.11     1.01        .27      .15       .63
                            -----     -----    -----     -----    -----    -----    -----      -----    -----     -----
  Less Distributions
  Dividends from Net
  Investment Income..        (.58)     (.53)    (.48)     (.56)    (.69)    (.75)    (.77)      (.75)    (.92)     (.89)

  Distributions from Net
  Realized Capital Gains        0         0     (.06)     (.48)       0        0        0          0     (.03)     (.80)

  Distributions in Excess
  of Net Realized
  Capital Gains.....            0         0     (.22)        0        0        0        0          0        0         0
                            -----     -----    -----     -----    -----    -----    -----      -----    -----     -----
   Total Distributions       (.58)     (.53)    (.76)    (1.04)    (.69)    (.75)    (.77)      (.75)    (.95)    (1.69)
                            -----     -----    -----     -----    -----    -----    -----      -----    -----     -----
NET ASSET VALUE AT
END OF PERIOD........      $10.24      9.99    10.18     10.73    10.52    10.23     9.87       9.63    10.11     10.91
                           ======     =====    =====    ======    =====   ======   ======      =====    =====     =====
TOTAL RETURN*........        8.42%    3.54%     1.85%    12.36%    9.92%   11.59%   10.61%      2.78%    1.60%     6.60%
- ------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS
- ----------------------------

  Net Assets at End of Period
  (in millions)......        $311      305       351       392      303      159       97         72       54        43

  Ratio of Expenses
  to Average Daily
  Net Assets+........         .53%     .53%      .51%      .53%     .59%     .73%     .75%       .75%     .75%      .93%

  Ratio of Net Investment
  Income to Average
  Daily Net Assets+..        5.65%    5.35%     4.50%     5.18%    6.55%    7.49%    7.66%      7.67%    7.36%     6.26%

  Portfolio Turnover
  Rate...............      167.89%   92.35%   212.91%   299.29%  148.75%   69.72%  216.84%    386.46%  465.35%   395.91%

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* Total return figures assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions. 

+ The ratios for the year ended March 31, 1996 include expenses paid through expense offset arrangements.

</TABLE>

                                       10

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (CONTINUED)
BENHAM LONG-TERM TREASURY AND AGENCY FUND
For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years ended March 31(except as noted)
    
                                                                        1996     1995      1994    1993+
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PER-SHARE DATA
- --------------
<S>                                                                    <C>       <C>      <C>      <C>  
NET ASSET VALUE AT  BEGINNING OF PERIOD.............................   $9.05     9.38     10.24    10.00

  Income From Investment Operations
  Net Investment Income.............................................     .60      .60       .63      .39
  Net Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments.........     .62     (.33)     (.27)     .24
                                                                       -----    -----     -----    -----
   Total Income From Investment Operations..........................    1.22      .27       .36      .63
                                                                       -----    -----     -----    -----
  Less Distributions
  Dividends from Net Investment Income .............................    (.60)    (.60)     (.63)    (.39)
  Distributions from Net Realized Capital Gains.....................       0        0      (.45)       0
  Distributions in Excess of Net Realized Capital Gains.............       0        0      (.14)       0
                                                                       -----    -----     -----    -----
   Total Distributions..............................................    (.60)    (.60)    (1.22)    (.39)
                                                                       -----    -----     -----    -----
NET ASSET VALUE AT END OF PERIOD....................................   $9.67    $9.05      9.38    10.24
                                                                       =====    =====     =====    =====
TOTAL RETURN*.......................................................   13.46%    3.25%     2.87%    6.48%
- ------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS
- ----------------------------

  Net Assets at End of Period (in millions).........................    $111       35        18       21
  Ratio of Expenses to Average Daily Net Assets++...................   .67%      .67%      .57%       0%
  Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Daily Net Assets++......   5.93%    6.84%     5.89%    7.18%**
  Portfolio Turnover Rate........................................... 112.35%  146.81%   200.34%   56.97%

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+  From September 8, 1992 (commencement of operations) through March 31, 1993.

++ The ratios for the year ended March 31, 1996 include expenses paid through expense offset arrangements.

*  Total return figures assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions and are not annualized.

** Annualized
</TABLE>
                                       11

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (CONTINUED)
BENHAM ADJUSTABLE RATE GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years ended March 31(except as noted)
    
                                                                1996        1995       1994        1993       1992+
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PER-SHARE DATA
- --------------
<S>                                                            <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>  
NET ASSET VALUE AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD....................     $9.42        9.75       9.97       10.04      10.00
  Income From Investment Operations
  Net Investment Income...................................       .54         .49        .54         .57        .40
  Net Realized and Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments      .05        (.33)      (.22)       (.07)       .04
                                                               -----       -----      -----       -----      -----
   Total Income From Investment Operations................       .59         .16        .32         .50        .44
                                                               -----       -----      -----       -----      -----
  Less Distributions
  Dividends from Net Investment Income....................      (.54)       (.49)      (.54)       (.57)      (.40)
  Distributions from Net Realized Capital Gains...........         0           0          0           0          0
                                                               -----       -----      -----       -----      -----
   Total Distributions....................................      (.54)       (.49)      (.54)       (.57)      (.40)
                                                               -----       -----      -----       -----      -----
NET ASSET VALUE AT END OF PERIOD..........................     $9.47        9.42       9.75        9.97      10.04
                                                               =====       =====      =====       =====      =====
TOTAL RETURN*.............................................      6.42%       1.75%      3.27%       5.13%      4.55%
- ------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS
- ----------------------------

  Net Assets at End of Period (in millions)...............      $299         397        937       1,495        886
  Ratio of Expenses to Average Daily Net Assets++.........       .60%        .57%       .51%        .45%         0%
  Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Daily Net Assets++  5.70%       4.98%      5.47%       5.66%      7.02%**
  Portfolio Turnover Rate.................................    221.35%      60.29%     91.87%      82.71%     81.84%

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

+  From September 3, 1991 (commencement of operations) through March 31, 1992.

++ The ratios for the year ended March 31, 1996 include expenses paid through expense offset arrangements. 

*  Total return figures assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions and are not annualized.

** Annualized.
</TABLE>

                                       12


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (CONTINUED)
BENHAM GNMA INCOME FUND

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years ended March 31(except as noted)
    
                            1996      1995     1994      1993     1992      1991     1990      1989     1988      1987
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PER-SHARE DATA
- ---------------
<S>                        <C>        <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>      <C>       <C>  
NET ASSET VALUE AT
BEGINNING OF PERIOD..      $10.18     10.35    10.88     10.52    10.21     9.85     9.56      9.96     10.42     10.42

  Income From
  Investment Operations
  Net Investment Income       .74       .72      .66       .79      .86      .88      .90      .89        .89       .91

  Net Realized and
  Unrealized Gains (Losses)
  on Investments.....         .27      (.18)    (.52)      .36      .31      .36      .29     (.40)      (.40)      .02
                           ------     -----    -----     -----    -----    -----    -----    -----      -----     -----
  Total Income
  from Investment
  Operations.........        1.01       .54      .14      1.15     1.17     1.24     1.19      .49        .49       .93
                           ------     -----    -----     -----    -----    -----    -----    -----      -----     -----
  Less Distributions
  Dividends from Net
  Investment Income..        (.74)     (.71)    (.66)     (.79)    (.86)    (.88)    (.90)    (.89)      (.95)     (.93)

  Distributions from Net
  Realized Capital Gains        0         0     (.01)        0        0        0        0        0          0         0
                           ------     -----    -----     -----    -----    -----    -----    -----      -----     -----
   Total Distributions       (.74)     (.71)    (.67)     (.79)    (.86)    (.88)    (.90)    (.89)      (.95)     (.93)
                           ------     -----    -----     -----    -----    -----    -----    -----      -----     -----
NET ASSET VALUE AT
END OF PERIOD........      $10.45     10.18    10.35     10.88    10.52    10.21     9.85     9.56       9.96     10.42
                           ======     =====    =====     =====    =====    =====    =====    =====      =====     =====
TOTAL RETURN*........       10.08%     5.53%    1.30%    11.28%   11.85%   13.16%   12.73%    5.07%      5.23%     9.51%
- ------------
SUPPLEMENTAL DATA AND RATIOS
- ----------------------------

  Net Assets at End of
  Period (in millions)     $1,120       980    1,129     1,160      724      409      290      253        259       393

  Ratio of Expenses to
  Average Daily
  Net Assets+........         .58%      .58%     .54%      .56%     .62%     .72%     .75%     .75%       .73%      .74%

  Ratio of Net Investment
  Income to Average
  Daily Net Assets+..        6.98%     7.08%    6.12%     7.31%    8.18%    8.85%    9.04%    9.11%      8.94%     8.79%

  Portfolio Turnover
  Rate...............       63.54%   119.56%   48.61%    70.57%   97.33%  206.60%  432.93%  496.52%    497.16%   566.27%

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Total return figures assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gain distributions. 

+ The ratios for the year ended March 31, 1996 include expenses paid through expense offset arrangements.
 
</TABLE>
                                       13


   
                         INFORMATION REGARDING THE FUNDS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   INVESTMENT POLICIES
   OF THE FUNDS

        The Funds have adopted certain investment restrictions that are set
   forth in the Statement of Additional Information. Those restrictions, as well
   as the investment objectives of the Funds identified on pages 2 and 3 of this
   Prospectus and any other investment policies which are designated as
   "fundamental" in this Prospectus or in the Statement of Additional
   Information, cannot be changed without shareholder approval. The Funds have
   implemented additional investment policies and practices to guide their
   activities in the pursuit of their respective investment objectives. These
   policies and practices, which are described throughout this Prospectus, are
   not designated as fundamental policies and may be changed without shareholder
   approval.

        Each Fund (except CPF II, ARM Fund, and GNMA Fund) seeks income exempt
   from state taxes by investing exclusively in U.S. government securities whose
   interest payments are state tax-exempt. As a result, these Funds' dividend
   distributions are expected to be exempt from state income tax. See page 30
   for more information on tax treatment of the Funds' distributions.

        The descriptions that follow are designed to help you determine whether
   a Fund fits your investment objectives. You may want to pursue more than one
   objective by investing in other funds offered offered by Twentieth Century.

        For an explanation of the securities ratings referred to in the
   following discussion, see "Other Information" in the Statement of Additional
   Information.

   THE MONEY MARKET FUNDS

        Each of the Money Market Funds seeks to maintain a $1.00 share price,
   although there is no guarantee they will be able to do so. Shares of the
   Money Market Funds are neither insured nor guaranteed by the U.S. government.

   BENHAM CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND ("CPF") 

     CPF seeks maximum safety and liquidity. Its secondary objective is to seek
   to pay shareholders the highest rate of return on their investment in the CPF
   consistent with safety and liquidity. CPF pursues its investment objectives
   by investing exclusively in short-term U.S. Treasury securities guaranteed by
   the direct full faith and credit pledge of the U.S. government. The CPF's
   dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity will not exceed 60 days.

        While the risks associated with investing in short-term U.S. Treasury
   securities are very low, an investment in CPF is not risk-free.

   BENHAM CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND II ("CPF II")

        CPF II seeks maximum safety and liquidity. Its secondary objective is to
   seek to pay its shareholders the highest rate of return on their investment
   in the Fund consistent with safety and liquidity. CPF II pursues its
   investment objectives by investing primarily in repurchase agreements
   collateralized by securities that are backed by the full faith and credit of
   the U.S. government. Such collateral may include U.S. Treasury bills, notes,
   and bonds or mortgage-backed Ginnie Mae certificates. Ginnie Mae certificates
   are guaranteed by the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) and
   backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Repurchase
   agreements held by the Fund normally have maturities of seven days or less.
   The Fund may invest directly in U.S. Treasury securities from time to time.
    
        CPF II restricts its average portfolio maturity to seven days or less.
   Because of this restriction, its yield responds more quickly to interest rate
   increases or decreases than do yields on most other money market funds and
   enhances portfolio liquidity. See page 19 for a discussion of the market and
   credit risks associated with investing in repurchase agreements.


                                       14

   
   BENHAM GOVERNMENT AGENCY FUND
   (THE "AGENCY FUND")

        The Agency Fund seeks to provide the highest rate of current return on
   its investments, consistent with safety of principal and maintenance of
   liquidity, by investing exclusively in short-term obligations of the U.S.
   government and its agencies and instrumentalities, the income from which is
   exempt from state taxes. Under normal conditions, at least 65% of the Fund's
   total assets are invested in securities issued by agencies and
   instrumentalities of the U.S. government. Assets not invested in these
   securities are invested in U.S. Treasury securities. For temporary defensive
   purposes, the Fund may invest up to 100% of its assets in U.S. Treasury
   securities. The Fund's weighted average portfolio maturity will not exceed 60
   days.
    
     The U.S. government provides varying levels of financial support to its
   agencies and instrumentalities.

   THE U.S. TREASURY & AGENCY FUNDS

        The U.S. Treasury and Agency Funds are quite similar to one another but
   can be differentiated by their dollar-weighted average maturities. The longer
   a Fund's dollar-weighted average maturity, the more its share price will
   fluctuate when interest rates change.

        This pattern is due, in part, to the time value of money. A bond's worth
   is determined in part by the present value of its future cash flows.
   Consequently, changing interest rates have a greater effect on the present
   value of a long-term bond than a short-term bond. Because of this interplay
   between market interest rates and share price, investors are encouraged to
   evaluate Fund performance on the basis of total return.

   BENHAM SHORT-TERM TREASURY AND AGENCY FUND (THE "SHORT-TERM FUND")
   
        The Short-Term Fund seeks to earn and distribute the highest level of
   current income exempt from state income taxes as is consistent with
   preservation of capital. The Short-Term Fund pursues this objective by
   investing exclusively in securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury
   and agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S.
   government.
    
        Within this framework, the Short-Term Fund invests primarily in
   securities with remaining maturities of 3 years or less, and, under normal
   conditions, maintains a weighted average portfolio maturity ranging from 13
   months to 3 years. The Short-Term Fund's portfolio may consist of any
   combination of these securities consistent with investment strategies
   employed by the Manager.
   
        The Short-Term Fund may be appropriate for investors who are seeking
   higher current yields than those available from money market funds and who
   can tolerate some share price volatility.

   BENHAM TREASURY NOTE FUND
   (THE "TREASURY NOTE FUND")

        The Treasury Note Fund seeks to earn and distribute the highest level of
   current income consistent with the conservation of assets and the safety
   provided by U.S. Treasury bills, notes, and bonds. The Treasury Note Fund
   pursues this objective by investing primarily in U.S. Treasury notes, which
   carry the direct full faith and credit pledge of the U.S. government. The
   Treasury Note Fund may also invest in U.S. Treasury bills, bonds, and
   zero-coupon securities, all of which are also backed by the direct full faith
   and credit pledge of the U.S. government. The Treasury Note Fund's weighted
   average portfolio maturity ranges from 13 months to 10 years, under normal
   market conditions.

        The Manager seeks a current yield for the Treasury Note Fund higher than
   that of the Short-Term Fund, with correspondingly greater share price
   volatility.
    
                                       15

   
   BENHAM LONG-TERM TREASURY AND AGENCY FUND (THE "LONG-TERM FUND")

        The Long-Term Fund seeks to provide a consistent and high level of
   current income exempt from state taxes. The Long-Term Fund pursues this
   objective by investing exclusively in securities issued or guaranteed by the
   U.S. Treasury and agencies or instrumentalities of the U.S. government. The
   Long-Term Fund's portfolio may consist of any combination of these securities
   consistent with investment strategies employed by the Manager. Within this
   framework, the Fund invests primarily in securities with maturities of 10 or
   more years and, under normal conditions, maintains a weighted average
   portfolio maturity ranging from 20 to 30 years.

        By maintaining an average portfolio maturity of 20 to 30 years, the
   Long-Term Fund offers investors the potential to earn higher current yields
   than those typically available from bond funds (such as the Short-Term and
   Treasury Note Funds) that maintain shorter average maturities. The Long-Term
   Fund may also offer greater potential for capital appreciation. However,
   maintaining a relatively long average maturity also means that the Fund's
   share price generally will be more volatile than those of funds that maintain
   shorter average maturities (such as the Short-Term and Treasury Note Funds).
    
   THE MORTGAGE SECURITIES FUNDS
   
   BENHAM ADJUSTABLE RATE GOVERNMENT SECURITIES FUND (THE "ARM FUND")

        The ARM Fund seeks to provide investors with a high level of current
   income, consistent with stability of principal. The ARM Fund pursues this
   objective by investing primarily in adjustable rate securities issued or
   guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or instrumentalities. Under
   normal conditions, the Manager invests at least 65% of the ARM Fund's total
   assets in adjustable rate mortgage securities (ARMs) and other securities
   collateralized by or representing interests in mortgages (collectively,
   "mortgage-backed securities"). These securities have interest rates that are
   reset periodically and that are issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government
   or its agencies or instrumentalities.
    
        ARMs are pass-through certificates representing ownership interests in
   pools of adjustable rate mortgages and in the cash flows from those
   mortgages. The ARMs in which the Fund may invest are issued or guaranteed by
   GNMA, FNMA, or FHLMC.

        The Fund may also invest in collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs),
   including CMO floaters and inverse floaters; stripped mortgage-backed
   securities, including interest-only (IO) and principal-only (PO) securities
   and IO inverse floaters; and fixed-rate mortgage securities issued or
   guaranteed by GNMA, FNMA, or FHLMC. All CMOs purchased by the Fund are either
   issued by a U.S. government agency or rated AAA by a nationally recognized
   statistical rating organization commonly referred to as a rating agency.

        Assets not invested in adjustable rate or mortgage-backed securities may
   be invested in U.S. Treasury bills, notes, and bonds and in other securities
   issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies or
   instrumentalities. For temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest up
   to 100% of its assets in these securities.
   
        By investing primarily in mortgage-backed securities that have variable
   interest rates, the ARM Fund seeks to maintain a more stable net asset value
   than is characteristic of funds that invest in mortgage securities paying a
   fixed rate of interest (such as the GNMA Fund). ARM prices generally
   fluctuate less than fixed-rate mortgage securities prices because their
   interest rates are reset periodically to reflect current interest rates.
   There is always a lag between market interest rate changes and ARM rate
   resets, however, and resets may be limited by caps on the rates that can be
   charged to borrowers.
    
                                       16

   
   BENHAM GNMA INCOME FUND
   (THE "GNMA FUND")

        The GNMA Fund seeks to provide a high level of current income consistent
   with safety of principal and maintenance of liquidity by investing primarily
   in mortgage-backed Ginnie Mae certificates.

        Ginnie Mae certificates represent interests in pools of mortgage loans
   and in the cash flows from those loans. These certificates are guaranteed by
   GNMA and backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government as to the
   timely payment of interest and repayment of principal, which means that the
   Fund receives its share of interest and principal payments owed on the
   underlying pool of mortgage loans, regardless of whether borrowers make their
   scheduled mortgage payments.
    
        Assets not invested in Ginnie Mae certificates, directly or indirectly,
   are invested in other U.S. government securities, such as U.S. Treasury
   bills, notes, and bonds, or repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S.
   government securities. For temporary defensive purposes, the Fund may invest
   100% of its assets in these securities.
   
        A unique feature of mortgage-backed securities, such as Ginnie Mae
   certificates, is that their principal is scheduled to be paid back gradually
   for the duration of the loan rather than in one lump sum at maturity.
   Investors (such as the GNMA Fund) receive scheduled monthly payments of
   principal and interest, but they may also receive unscheduled prepayments of
   principal on the underlying mortgages. See "Mortgage-Backed Securities" on
   page 18 for a discussion of prepayment risk.

   RISK FACTORS AND INVESTMENT
   TECHNIQUES

        The obligations in which the Funds may invest differ from one another in
   their interest rates, maturities, dates of issuance and interest payment
   schedules. The pertinent features of the types of obligations in which the
   Funds may invest are described in this section.

   U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES
    
        U.S. Treasury bills, notes, zero-coupon bonds, and other bonds are
   direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, which has never failed to pay
   interest and repay principal when due. Treasury bills have initial maturities
   of one year or less, Treasury notes from two to ten years, and Treasury bonds
   more than 10 years. Although U.S. Treasury securities carry little principal
   risk if held to maturity, the prices of these securities (like all debt
   securities) change between issuance and maturity in response to fluctuating
   market interest rates.

        A number of U.S. government agencies and government-sponsored
   organizations issue debt securities. These agencies generally are created by
   Congress to fulfill a specific need, such as providing credit to home buyers
   or farmers. Among these agencies are the Federal Home Loan Banks, the Federal
   Farm Credit Banks, the Student Loan Marketing Association, and the Resolution
   Funding Corporation.

        Some agency securities are backed by the full faith and credit of the
   U.S. government, and some are guaranteed only by the issuing agency. Agency
   securities typically offer somewhat higher yields than U.S. Treasury
   securities with similar maturities. However, these securities may involve
   greater risk of default than securities backed by the U.S.
   Treasury.

        Interest rates on agency securities may be fixed for the term of the
   investment (fixed-rate agency securities) or tied to prevailing interest
   rates (floating-rate agency securities). Interest rate resets on
   floating-rate agency securities 

                                       17


   generally occur at intervals of one year or less, based on changes in a 
   predetermined interest rate index.

        Floating-rate agency securities frequently have caps limiting the extent
   to which coupon rates can be raised. The price of a floating-rate agency
   security may decline if its capped coupon rate is lower than prevailing
   market interest rates. Fixed- and floating-rate agency securities may be
   issued with a call date (which permits redemption before the maturity date).
   The exercise of a call may reduce an obligation's yield to maturity. CPF and
   CPF II may not invest in floating-rate agency securities.

   MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES

        The ARM and GNMA Funds may purchase mortgage pass-through securities.
   These represent interests in "pools" of mortgages in which payments of both
   interest and principal on the securities are generally made monthly. These
   monthly mortgage payments are, in effect "passed-through" to the security
   holder, (minus fees paid to the security's issuer or guarantor). Although
   fixed-rate mortgages typically have stated maturities of 30 or more years,
   most mortgage holders pay off their mortgages before they mature which may
   make these subject to prepayment risk.
       
        Also, mortgage-backed securities, like other fixed income securities,
   generally decrease in value as a result of increases in interest rates, but
   benefit less than other fixed-income securities from declining interest rates
   because of the risk of prepayment resulting from homeowners' refinancing
   their mortgages to take advantage of lower interest rates. On average,
   securities backed by 30-year mortgages return principal within 7 to 10 years.
   As a result, these securities have historically exhibited behavior comparable
   to 7- to 10-year Treasury notes, while offering higher yields.

        The primary issuers of mortgage securities are FNMA, FHLMC and GNMA.
   Payments of principal and interest on GNMA securities are guaranteed by GNMA
   and backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. FNMA and
   FHLMC have a close relationship with the U.S. government so even though their
   securities are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S.
   government, management considers them to be high-quality securities with
   minimal credit risks.
   
   ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGE SECURITIES

        Adjustable-rate mortage securities (ARMs) are pass-through securities
   collateralized by mortgages with adjustable, rather than fixed, interest
   rates. The interest rate payments and amortization of principal on the
   underlying adjustable rate mortgages are tied to changes in predetermined
   interest rate indexes. ARM rates are readjusted at intervals of one year or
   less, subject to maximums (caps) and minimums (floors) on the rates that can
   be charged to mortgage holders during a given period and during the life of a
   mortgage. These periodic rate adjustments allow the ARM Fund to participate
   in market interest rate increases (to produce higher yields with less share
   price volatility) but only to the extent that the current rate on the
   underlying mortgages remain at or below their specified caps.
    
        ARM interest rate resets should cause the ARM Fund's share price to
   fluctuate less dramatically than it would if the Fund were substantially
   invested in securities backed by long-term, fixed-rate mortgages. This means
   that share price declines should be less than for funds investing in
   fixed-rate mortgages when interest rates rise. This characteristic of ARMs
   should also cause the potential for share price appreciation when interest
   rates decline to be less than for funds investing in fixed-rate mortgages.

        If ARMs are purchased at a premium, mortgage foreclosures and
   unscheduled principal prepayments may result in a decline in share price. On
   the other hand, if ARMs are purchased at a discount, both scheduled and
   unscheduled payments of principal may accelerate the recognition of income
   and thereby increase the Fund's yield and total return.


                                       18


        The mortgages that collateralize ARMs issued by GNMA are fully
   guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration or the Department of
   Veterans Affairs, which are divisions of the U.S. government. The mortgages
   that collateralize ARMs issued by FNMA or FHLMC typically are conventional
   residential mortgages that conform to standards prescribed by FNMA or FHLMC
   and are guaranteed by those instrumentalities.
   
   COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE OBLIGATIONS
    
        Collateralized mortgage obligations (CMOs) are mortgage-backed
   securities issued by government agencies; single-purpose, stand-alone
   financial subsidiaries; trusts established by financial institutions; or
   similar institutions. The ARM Fund may buy CMOs, provided that they:

     o Are collateralized by pools of mortgages in which payment of principal
       and interest of each mortgage is guaranteed by an agency or
       instrumentality of the U.S. government;
     o Are collateralized by pools of mortgages in which payment of principal
       and interest are guaranteed by the issuer, and the guarantee is
       collateralized by U.S. government securities; or
     o Are securities in which the proceeds of the issue are invested in
       mortgage securities and payments of principal and interest is supported
       by the credit of an agency or instrumentality of the U.S. government.

        The GNMA Fund may buy CMOs only if they are Ginnie-Mae-backed.
   
   STRIPPED MORTGAGE-BACKED SECURITIES
    
        Stripped mortgage-backed securities (which are permitted investments for
   the ARM Fund only) are usually structured with two classes. One class will
   receive all of the interest (the interest-only class, or "IO"), whereas the
   other class will receive all of the principal (the principal-only class, or
   "PO"). Stripped mortgage securities are likely to experience greater price
   volatility than other types of mortgage securities in which the ARM Fund
   invests. The yield to maturity on the IO class is extremely sensitive, not
   only to changes in prevailing interest rates but also to the rate of
   principal payments (including prepayments) on the underlying mortgage assets.
   If prepayments accelerate, the ARM Fund may not fully recover its initial
   investment in these securities. The ARM Fund's investments in stripped
   mortgage securities together with investments in illiquid securities may not
   exceed 10% of net assets.

   REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS
   
        Each Fund, with the exception of CPF, may invest in repurchase
   agreements when such transactions present an attractive short-term return on
   cash that is not otherwise committed to the purchase of securities pursuant
   to the investment policies of that Fund.

        A repurchase agreement occurs when, at the time the Fund purchases an
   interest-bearing obligation, the seller (a bank or a broker-dealer registered
   under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) agrees to repurchase it on a
   specified date in the future at an agreed-upon price. The repurchase price
   reflects an agreed-upon interest rate during the time the Fund's money is
   invested in the security.

        Since the security purchase constitutes security for the repurchase
   obligation, a repurchase agreement can be considered a loan collateralized by
   the security purchased. The Fund's risk is the ability of the seller to pay
   the agreed-upon repurchase price on the repurchase date. If the seller
   defaults, the Fund may incur costs in disposing of the collateral, which
   would reduce the amount realized thereon. If the seller seeks relief under
   the bankruptcy laws, the disposition of the collateral may be delayed or
   limited. To the extent the value of the security decreases, the Fund could
   experience a loss.
    
                                       19

   
        Each of the Funds, with the exception of CPF, may invest in repurchase
   agreements with respect to any security in which that Fund is authorized to
   invest, even if the remaining maturity of the underlying security would make
   that security ineligible for purchase by such Fund.

   OTHER INVESTMENT PRACTICES,
   THEIR CHARACTERISTICS AND RISKS

        For additional information regarding the investment practices of any of
   the Funds, see the Statement of Additional Information.

   PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

        The portfolio turnover rates of the U.S. Treasury & Agency Funds and the
   Mortgage Securities Funds are shown in the Financial Highlights tables on
   pages 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 of this Prospectus.

        Investment decisions to purchase and sell securities are based on the
   anticipated contribution of the security in question to a particular Fund's
   objectives. The rate of portfolio turnover is irrelevant when management
   believes a change is in order to achieve those objectives and, accordingly,
   the annual portfolio turnover rate cannot be accurately anticipated.

        The portfolio turnover of each Fund may be higher than other mutual
   funds with similar investment objectives. A high turnover rate involves
   correspondingly higher transaction costs that are borne directly by a Fund.
   It may also affect the character of capital gains, if any, realized and
   distributed by a Fund since short-term capital gains are taxable as ordinary
   income.
    
   WHEN-ISSUED AND FORWARD COMMITMENT AGREEMENTS
   
        Each of the Funds may purchase new issues of securities on a when-issued
   or forward commitment basis when, in the opinion of the Manager, such
   purchases will further the investment objectives of the Fund. The price of
   when-issued securities is established at the time commitment to purchase is
   made. Delivery of and payment for these securities typically occurs 15 to 45
   days after the commitment to purchase. Market rates of interest on debt
   securities at the time of delivery may be higher or lower than those
   contracted for on the security. Accordingly, the value of each security may
   decline prior to delivery, which could result in a loss to the Fund.

   CASH MANAGEMENT

        For cash management purposes, each of the Funds (except the Money Market
   Funds) may invest up to an aggregate total of 5% of its total assets in any
   money market fund advised by the Manager, provided that the investment is
   consistent with the Fund's investment policies and restrictions.

   OTHER TECHNIQUES

        The Manager may buy other types of securities or employ other portfolio
   management techniques on behalf of the Funds. When SEC guidelines require it
   to do so, a Fund will set aside cash or appropriate liquid assets in a
   segregated account to cover the Fund's obligations.

   PERFORMANCE ADVERTISING

        From time to time, the Funds may advertise performance data. Fund
   performance may be shown by presenting one or more performance measurements,
   including cumulative total return or average annual total return, yield,
   effective yield and tax-equivalent yield (for tax-exempt funds).

        CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN data is computed by considering all elements of
   return, including reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions,
   over a stated period of time. AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN is determined by
   computing the annual compound return over a stated period of time that would
   have produced a fund's cumulative total return over the same period if the
   fund's performance had remained constant throughout.
    

                                       20

   
        A quotation of YIELD reflects a fund's income over a stated period
   expressed as a percentage of the fund's share price. In the case of the Money
   Market Funds, yield is calculated by measuring the income generated by an
   investment in the Fund over a seven-day period (net of Fund expenses). This
   income is then annualized, that is, the amount of income generated by the
   investment over the seven-day period is assumed to be generated over each
   similar period each week throughout a full year and is shown as a percentage
   of the investment. The EFFECTIVE YIELD is calculated in a similar manner but,
   when annualized, the income earned by the investment is assumed to be
   reinvested. The effective yield will be slightly higher than the yield
   because of the compounding effect on the assumed reinvestment.

        With respect to the U.S. Treasury & Agency Funds and the Mortgage
   Securities Funds, yield is calculated by adding over a 30-day (or one-month)
   period all interest and dividend income (net of fund expenses) calculated on
   each day's market values, dividing this sum by the average number of Fund
   shares outstanding during the period, and expressing the result as a
   percentage of the Fund's share price on the last day of the 30-day (or one
   month) period. The percentage is then annualized. Capital gains and losses
   are not included in the calculation.

        Yields are calculated according to accounting methods that are
   standardized in accordance with SEC rules. The SEC yield should be regarded
   as an estimate of the Fund's rate of investment income, and it may not equal
   the Fund's actual income distribution rate, the income paid to a
   shareholder's account, or the income reported in the Fund's financial
   statements.

        A tax-equivalent yield demonstrates the taxable yield necessary to
   produce after-tax yield equivalent to that of a mutual fund which invests in
   exempt obligations. Each Fund (with the exception of CPF, CPF II, the ARM
   Fund and the GNMA Fund) may quote tax-equivalent yields, which show the
   taxable yields an investor would have to earn before taxes to equal the
   Fund's tax-free yields. As a prospective investor in these Funds, you should
   determine whether your tax-equivalent yield is likely to be higher with a
   taxable or with a tax-exempt Fund. To determine this, you may use the
   formulas depicted below.

        You can calculate your tax-equivalent yield for a Fund (taking into
   account only federal income taxes and not any applicable state taxes) using
   the following equation:

       Fund's State Tax-Free Yield       Your Tax-
       ----------------------------  =   Equivalent
           100% - State Tax Rate           Yield

         The Funds may also include in advertisements data comparing performance
   with the performance of non-related investment media, published editorial
   comments and performance rankings compiled by independent organizations (such
   as Lipper Analytical Services or Donoghue's Money Fund Report) and
   publications that monitor the performance of mutual funds. Performance
   information may be quoted numerically or may be presented in a table, graph
   or other illustration. In addition, a fund's performance may be compared to
   well-known indices of market performance including the Donoghue's Money Fund
   Average and Bank Rate Monitor National Index of 21/2-year CD rates. A fund's
   performance may also be compared, on a relative basis, to the other funds in
   our fund family. This relative comparison, which may be based upon historical
   or expected fund performance, volatility or other fund characteristics, may
   be presented numerically, graphically or in text. The performance of a fund
   may also be combined or blended with other funds in our fund family, and that
   combined or blended performance may be compared to the same indices to which
   individual funds may be compared.

        All performance information advertised by the Funds is historical in
   nature and is not intended to represent or guarantee future results. The
   value of Fund shares when redeemed may be more or less than their original
   cost.
    
                                       21

   
        HOW TO INVEST WITH TWENTIETH CENTURY AND THE BENHAM GROUP
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

        The following section explains how to invest with Twentieth Century
   Mutual Funds and The Benham Group, including purchases, redemptions,
   exchanges and special services. You will find more detail about doing
   business with us by referring to the Investor Services Guide that you will
   receive when you open an account.

        If you own or are considering purchasing Fund shares through an
   employer-sponsored retirement plan or through a bank, broker-dealer or other
   financial intermediary, the following sections, as well as the information
   contained in our Investor Services Guide, may not apply to you. Please read
   "Employer Sponsored Retirement Plans and Institutional Accounts," page 28.

   HOW TO OPEN AN ACCOUNT

        To open an account, you must complete and sign an application,
   furnishing your taxpayer identification number. (You must also certify
   whether you are subject to withholding for failing to report income to the
   IRS.) Investments received without a certified taxpayer identification number
   will be returned.

        The minimum investment is $2,500 ($1,000 for IRA accounts).

        The minimum investment requirements may be different for some types of
   retirement accounts. Call one of our Investor Services Representatives for
   information on our retirement plans, which are available for individual
   investors or for those investing through their employers.

        Please note: If you register your account as belonging to multiple
   owners (e.g., as joint tenants) you must provide us with specific
   authorization on your application in order for us to accept written or
   telephone instructions from a single owner. Otherwise, all owners will have
   to agree to any transactions that involve the account (whether the
   transaction request is in writing or over the telephone).
        You may invest in the following ways:

   BY MAIL

        Send a completed application and check or money order payable in U.S. 
   dollars to Twentieth Century.

   BY WIRE

        You may make your initial investment by wiring funds. To do so, call us
   or mail a completed application and provide your bank with the following
   information:

        RECEIVING BANK AND ROUTING NUMBER:
        Commerce Bank, N.A. (101000019)

        BENEFICIARY (BNF):
        Twentieth Century Services, Inc.
        4500 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111 

        BENEFICIARY ACCOUNT NUMBER (BNF ACCT):
        2804918

        REFERENCE FOR BENEFICIARY (RFB):
        Twentieth Century account number into which you are investing. If more
        than one, leave blank and see Bank to Bank Information below.

        ORIGINATOR TO BENEFICIARY (OBI):
        Name and address of owner of account into which you are investing.

        BANK TO BANK INFORMATION
        (BBI OR FREE FORM TEXT):
       o Taxpayer identification or social security number
       o If more than one account, account numbers and amount to be invested in
         each account.
       o Current tax year, previous tax year or rollover designation if an IRA.
         Specify whether IRA, SEP-IRA or SARSEP-IRA.

   BY EXCHANGE

        Call 1-800-345-2021 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central time to get
   information on opening an account by exchanging from another Twentieth
   Century or Benham account. See page 23 for more information on exchanges.
    

                                       22

   
   IN PERSON

        If you prefer to work with a representative in person, please visit one
   of our Investors Centers, located at:

        4500 Main Street
        Kansas City, MO 64111

        1665 Charleston Road
        Mountain View, CA 94043

        2000 S. Colorado Blvd.
        Denver, CO 80222.

   SUBSEQUENT INVESTMENTS

        Subsequent investments may be made by an automatic bank, payroll or
   government direct deposit (see "Automatic Investment Plan," this page) or by
   any of the methods below. The minimum investment requirement for subsequent
   investments: $250 for checks submitted without the remittance portion of a
   previous statement or confirmation, $50 for all other types of subsequent
   investments.

   BY MAIL

        When making subsequent investments, enclose your check with the
   remittance portion of the confirmation of a previous investment. If the
   remittance slip is not available, indicate your name, address and account
   number on your check or a separate piece of paper. (Please be aware that the
   investment minimum for subsequent investments is higher without a remittance
   slip.)

   BY TELEPHONE

        Once your account is open, you may make investments by telephone if you
   have authorized us (by choosing "Full Services" on your application) to draw
   on your bank account. You may call an Investor Services Representative or use
   our Automated Information Line.

   BY WIRE

        You may make subsequent investments by wire. Follow the wire transfer
   instructions on page 24 and indicate your account number.

   IN PERSON

        You may make subsequent investments in person at one of our Investors
   Centers. The locations of our three Investors Centers are listed on this
   page.

   AUTOMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN

        You may elect on your application to make investments automatically by
   authorizing us to draw on your bank account regularly. Such investments must
   be at least the equivalent of $50 per month. You also may choose an automatic
   payroll or government direct deposit. If you are establishing a new account,
   check the appropriate box under "Automatic Investments" on your application
   to receive more information. If you would like to add a direct deposit to an
   existing account, please call one of our Investor Services Representatives.

   HOW TO EXCHANGE FROM ONE
   ACCOUNT TO ANOTHER

        As long as you meet any minimum initial investment requirements, you may
   exchange your Fund shares to our other funds up to six times per year per
   account. For any single exchange, the shares of each fund being acquired must
   have a value of at least $100. However, we will allow investors to set up an
   Automatic Exchange Plan between any two funds in the amount of at least $50
   per month. See our Investor Services Guide for further information about
   exchanges.
    

                                       23

   
   BY MAIL

        You may direct us in writing to exchange your shares from one Twentieth
   Century or Benham account to another. For additional information, please see
   our Investor Services Guide.

   BY TELEPHONE

        You can make exchanges over the phone (either with an Investor Services
   Representative or using our Automated Information Line--see page 25) if you
   have authorized us to accept telephone instructions. You can authorize this
   by selecting "Full Services" on your application or by calling us at
   1-800-345-2021 to receive the appropriate form.

   HOW TO REDEEM SHARES

        We will redeem or "buy back" your shares at any time. Redemptions will
   be made at the next net asset value determined after a complete redemption
   request is received.

        Please note that a request to redeem shares in an IRA or 403(b) plan
   must be accompanied by an executed IRS Form W4-P and a reason for withdrawal
   as specified by the IRS.

   BY MAIL

        Your written instructions to redeem shares may be made either by a
   redemption form, which we will send to you upon request, or by a letter to
   us. Certain redemptions may require a signature guarantee. Please see
   "Signature Guarantee," page 25.

   BY TELEPHONE

        If you have authorized us to accept telephone instructions, you may
   redeem your shares by calling an Investor Services Representative.

   BY CHECK-A-MONTH

        If you have at least a $10,000 balance in your account, you may redeem
   shares by Check-A-Month. A Check-A-Month plan automatically redeems enough
   shares each month to provide you with redemption proceeds in an amount you
   choose (minimum $50). To set up a Check-A-Month plan, please call and request
   our Check-A-Month brochure.

   OTHER AUTOMATIC REDEMPTIONS

        You may elect to make redemptions automatically by authorizing us to
   send funds directly to you or to your account at a bank or other financial
   institution. To set up automatic redemptions, call one of our Investor
   Services Representatives.

   REDEMPTION PROCEEDS

        Please note that shortly after a purchase of shares is made by check or
   electronic draft (also known as an ACH draft) from your bank, we may wait up
   to 15 days or longer to send redemption proceeds (to allow your purchase
   funds to clear). No interest is paid on the redemption proceeds after the
   redemption is processed but before your redemption proceeds are sent.

        Redemption proceeds may be sent to you in one of the following ways:

   BY CHECK

        Ordinarily, all redemption checks will be made payable to the registered
   owner of the shares and will be mailed only to the address of record. For
   more information, please refer to our Investor Services Guide.

   BY WIRE AND ACH

        You may authorize us to transmit redemption proceeds by wire or ACH.
   These services will be effective 15 days after we receive the authorization.

        Your bank will usually receive wired funds within 48 hours of
   transmission. Funds transferred by ACH may be received up to seven days after
   transmission. Wired funds are subject to a $10 fee to cover bank wire
   charges, which is deducted from redemption proceeds. Once the funds are
   transmitted, the time of receipt and the funds' availability are not under
   our control.
    
                                       24


   
   REDEMPTION OF SHARES
   IN LOW-BALANCE ACCOUNTS

        Whenever the shares held in an account have a value of less than the
   required minimum, a letter will be sent advising you of the necessity to
   either bring the value of the shares held in the account up to the minimum.
   If action is not taken within 90 days of the letter's date, the shares held
   in the account will be redeemed and proceeds from the redemption will be sent
   by check to your address of record. We reserve the right to increase the
   investment minimums.

   SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

        To protect your accounts from fraud, some transactions will require a
   signature guarantee. Which transactions will require a signature guarantee
   will depend on which service options you elect when you open your account.
   For example, if you choose "In Writing Only," a signature guarantee will be
   required when:

       o Redeeming more than $25,000
       o Establishing or increasing a Check-A-Month or automatic transfer on an
         existing account.

        You may obtain a signature guarantee from a bank or trust company, 
   credit union, broker- dealer, securities exchange or association, clearing 
   agency or savings association, as defined by federal law.

        For a more in-depth explanation of our signature guarantee policy, or if
   you live outside the United States and would like to know how to obtain a
   signature guarantee, please consult our Investor Services Guide.

        We reserve the right to require a signature guarantee on any
   transaction, or to change this policy at any time.

   SPECIAL INVESTOR SERVICES

        We offer several service options to make your account easier to manage.
   These are listed on the account application. Please make note of these
   options and elect the ones that are appropriate for you. Be aware that the
   "Full Services" option offers you the most flexibility. You will find more
   information about each of these service options in our Investor Services
   Guide.

        Our special investor services include:

   AUTOMATED INFORMATION LINE

       We offer an Automated Information Line, 24 hours a day, seven days a
   week, at 1-800-345-8765. By calling the Automated Information Line, you may
   listen to fund prices, yields and total return figures. You may also use the
   Automated Information Line to make investments into your accounts (if we have
   your bank information on file) and obtain your share balance, value and most
   recent transactions. If you have authorized us to accept telephone
   instructions, you also may exchange shares from one fund to another via the
   Automated Information Line. Redemption instructions cannot be given via the
   Automated Information Line.

   CHECKWRITING

        We offer CheckWriting as a service option for your account in any of the
   Money Market or Mortgage Securities Funds. CheckWriting allows you to redeem
   shares in your account by writing a draft ("check") against your account
   balance. (Shares held in certificate form may not be redeemed by check.)
   There is no limit on the number of checks you can write, but each one must be
   for at least $100.

        When you write a check, you will continue to receive dividends on all
   shares until your check is presented for payment to our clearing bank. If you
   redeem all shares in your account by check, any accrued distributions on the
   redeemed shares will be paid to you in cash on the next monthly distribution
   date.
    
                                       25

   
        If you want to add CheckWriting to an existing account that offers
   CheckWriting, contact us by phone or mail for an appropriate form. For a new
   account, you may elect CheckWriting on your purchase application by choosing
   the "Full Services" option. CheckWriting is not available for any account
   held in an IRA or 403(b) plan.

        CheckWriting redemptions may only be made on checks provided by us.
   Currently, there is no charge for checks or for the CheckWriting service.

        We will return checks drawn on insufficient funds or on funds from
   investments made by means other than by wire within the previous 15 days.
   Neither the company nor our clearing bank will be liable for any loss or
   expenses associated with returned checks. Your account may be assessed a $15
   service charge for checks drawn on insufficient funds.

        A stop payment may be ordered on a check written against your account.
   We will use reasonable efforts to stop a payment, but we cannot guarantee
   that we will be able to do so. If we are successful in fulfilling a
   stop-payment order, your account may be assessed a $15 fee.

   OPEN ORDER SERVICE

        Through our open order service, you may designate a price at which to
   buy shares of a variable-priced fund by exchange from one of our money market
   funds, or a price at which to sell shares of a variable-priced fund by
   exchange to one of our money market funds. The designated purchase price must
   be equal to or lower, or the designated sale price equal to or higher, than
   the variable-priced fund's net asset value at the time the order is placed,
   If the designated price is met within 90 calendar days, we will execute your
   exchange order automatically at that price (or better). Open orders not
   executed within 90 days will be canceled.

        If the fund you have selected deducts a distribution from its share
   price, your order price will be adjusted accordingly so the distribution does
   not inadvertently trigger an open order transaction on your behalf. If you
   close or re-register the account from which the shares are to be redeemed,
   your open order will be canceled.

        Because of their time-sensitive nature, open order transactions are
   accepted only by telephone or in person. These transactions are subject to
   exchange limitations described in each fund's prospectus, except that orders
   and cancellations received before 2 p.m. Central time are effective the same
   day, and orders or cancellations received after 2 p.m. Central time are
   effective the next business day.

   TAX-QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLANS

        Each fund is available for your tax-deferred retirement plan. Call or
   write us and request the appropriate forms for:

       o Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRA"s)
       o 403(b) plans for employees of public school systems and non-profit
         organizations 
       o Profit sharing plans and pension plans for corporations and other 
         employers.

        If your IRA and 403(b) accounts do not total $10,000, each account is
   subject to an annual $10 fee, up to a total of $30 per year.

        You can also transfer your tax-deferred plan to us from another company
   or custodian. Call or write us for a "Request to Transfer" form.

   IMPORTANT POLICIES REGARDING
   YOUR INVESTMENTS

        Every account is subject to policies that could affect your investment.
   Please refer to the Investor Services Guide for further information about the
   policies discussed below, as well as further detail about the services we
   offer.
      (1)  We reserve the right for any reason to suspend the offering of shares
           for a period of time, or to reject any specific purchase order
           (including purchases by exchange). Additionally, purchases may be
           refused if, in the opinion of the Manager, they are of a size that
           would disrupt the management of the Fund.
    
                                       26

   
      (2)  We reserve the right to make changes to any stated investment
           requirements, including those that relate to purchases, transfers and
           redemptions. In addition, we may also alter, add to or terminate any
           investor services and privileges. Any changes may affect all
           shareholders or only certain series or classes of shareholders.

      (3)  Shares being acquired must be qualified for sale in your state of
           residence.

      (4)  Transactions requesting a specific price and date, other than open
           orders, will be refused.

      (5)  If a transaction request is made by a corporation, partnership,
           trust, fiduciary, agent or unincorporated association, we will
           require evidence satisfactory to us of the authority of the
           individual making the request.

      (6)  We have established procedures designed to assure the authenticity of
           instructions received by telephone. These procedures include
           requesting personal identification from callers, recording telephone
           calls, and providing written confirmations of telephone transactions.
           These procedures are designed to protect shareholders from
           unauthorized or fraudulent instructions. If we do not employ
           reasonable procedures to confirm the genuineness of instructions,
           then we may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent
           instructions. The company, its transfer agent and investment adviser
           will not be responsible for any loss due to instructions they
           reasonably believe are genuine.

      (7)  All signatures should be exactly as the name appears in the
           registration. If the owner's name appears in the registration as Mary
           Elizabeth Jones, she should sign that way and not as Mary E. Jones.

      (8)  Unusual stock market conditions have in the past resulted in an
           increase in the number of shareholder telephone calls. If you
           experience difficulty in reaching us during such periods, you may
           send your transaction instructions by mail, express mail or courier
           service, or you may visit one of our Investors Centers. You may also
           use our Automated Information Line if you have requested and received
           an access code and are not attempting to redeem shares.

      (9)  If you fail to provide us with the correct certified taxpayer
           identification number, we may reduce any redemption proceeds by $50
           to cover the penalty the IRS will impose on us for failure to report
           your correct taxpayer identification number on information reports.

      (10) We will perform special inquiries on shareholder accounts. A research
           fee of $15 may be applied.

   REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS

        At the end of each calendar quarter, we will send you a consolidated
   statement that summarizes all of your Twentieth Century and Benham holdings,
   as well as an individual statement for each fund you own that reflects all
   year-to-date activity in your account. You may request a statement of your
   account activity at any time.

        With the exception of most automatic transactions and transactions by
   CheckWriting, each time you invest, redeem, transfer or exchange shares, we
   will send you a confirmation of the transactions. Transactions initiated by
    

                                       27

   
   CheckWriting will be confirmed on a monthly basis. See the Investor Services
   Guide for more detail.

        Carefully review all the information relating to transactions on your
   statements and confirmations to ensure that your instructions were acted on
   properly. Please notify us immediately in writing if there is an error. If
   you fail to provide notification of an error with reasonable promptness,
   i.e., within 30 days of non-automatic transactions or within 30 days of the
   date of your consolidated quarterly statement, in the case of automatic
   transactions, we will deem you to have ratified the transaction.

        No later than January 31st of each year, we will send you reports that
   you may use in completing your U.S. income tax return. See the Investor
   Services Guide for more information.

        Each year, we will send you an annual and a semiannual report relating
   to your fund, each of which is incorporated herein by reference. The annual
   report includes audited financial statements and a list of portfolio
   securities as of the fiscal year end. The semiannual report includes
   unaudited financial statements for the first six months of the fiscal year,
   as well as a list of portfolio securities at the end of the period. You also
   will receive an updated prospectus at least once each year. Please read these
   materials carefully as they will help you understand your fund.

   EMPLOYER-SPONSORED
   RETIREMENT PLANS AND
   INSTITUTIONAL ACCOUNTS

        Information contained in our Investor Services Guide and in the "How to
   Invest" sections beginning on page 22 pertain to shareholders who invest
   directly with Twentieth Century rather than through an employer-sponsored
   retirement plan or through a financial intermediary. If you own or are
   considering purchasing Fund shares through an employer-sponsored retirement
   plan, your ability to purchase shares of the Funds, exchange them for shares
   of other Twentieth Century or Benham funds, and redeem them will depend on
   the terms of your plan. If you own or are considering purchasing Fund shares
   through a bank, broker-dealer, insurance company or other financial
   intermediary, your ability to purchase, exchange and redeem shares will
   depend on your agreement with, and the policies of, such financial
   intermediary.

        You may reach one of our Institutional Investor Service Representatives
   by calling 1-800-345-3533 to request information about our funds and
   services, to obtain a current prospectus or to get answers to any questions
   about our Funds that you are unable to obtain through your plan administrator
   or financial intermediary.
    

                                       28

   
                     ADDITIONAL INFORMATION YOU SHOULD KNOW
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   SHARE PRICE

   WHEN SHARE PRICE IS DETERMINED

        The price of your shares is also referred to as their net asset value.
   Net asset value is determined by calculating the total value of a Fund's
   assets, deducting total liabilities and dividing the result by the number of
   shares outstanding. Net asset value is determined at the close of regular
   trading on each day that the New York Stock Exchange (the "Exchange") is
   open.

        Investments and requests to redeem or exchange shares will receive the
   share price next determined after receipt by us of the investment or
   redemption or exchange request. For example, investments and requests to
   redeem or exchange shares received by us or our authorized agents before the
   close of business on the Exchange, usually 3 p.m. Central time, are effective
   on, and will receive the price determined, that day as of the close of the
   Exchange. Investment, redemption and exchange requests received thereafter
   are effective on, and receive the price determined as of, the close of the
   Exchange on the next day the Exchange is open.

        Investments are considered received only when your check or wired funds
   are received by us. Wired funds are considered received on the day they are
   deposited in our bank account if your telephone call is received before the
   close of business on the Exchange, usually 3 p.m. Central time and the money
   is deposited that day.

        Investments by telephone pursuant to your prior authorization to us to
   draw on your bank account are considered received at the time of your
   telephone call.

        Investment and transaction instructions received by us on any business
   day by mail prior to the close of business on the Exchange will receive that
   day's price. Investments and instructions received after that time will
   receive the price determined on the next business day.

        If you invest in Fund shares through an employer-sponsored retirement
   plan or other financial intermediary, it is the responsibility of your plan
   recordkeeper or financial intermediary to transmit your purchase, exchange
   and redemption requests to the Funds' transfer agent prior to the applicable
   cut-off time for receiving orders and to make payment for any purchase
   transactions in accordance with the Funds' procedures or any contractual
   arrangement with the Funds or the Funds' distributor in order for you to
   receive that day's price.

   HOW SHARE PRICE IS DETERMINED

        The valuation of assets for determining net asset value may be
   summarized as follows:

        Portfolio securities of each Fund, except as otherwise noted, listed or
   traded on a domestic securities exchange are valued at the last sale price on
   that exchange. Portfolio securities primarily traded on foreign securities
   exchanges are generally valued at the preceding closing values of such
   securities on the exchange where primarily traded. If no sale is reported, or
   if local convention or regulation so provides, the mean of the latest bid and
   asked prices is used. Depending on local convention or regulation, securities
   traded over-the-counter are priced at the mean of the latest bid and asked
   prices, or at the last sale price. When market quotations are not readily
   available, securities and other assets are valued at fair value as determined
   in accordance with procedures adopted by the board of directors/trustees.

        Debt securities not traded on a principal securities exchange are valued
   through valuations obtained from a commercial pricing service or at the most
   recent mean of the bid and asked prices provided by investment dealers in
   accordance with procedures established by the board of trustees.

        Pursuant to a determination by the Money Market Funds' board of
   directors/trustees and Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 
    

                                       29

   
   1940 (the "the 1940 Act"), portfolio securities of the Funds are valued at
   amortized cost. When a security is valued at amortized cost, it is valued at
   its cost when purchased, and thereafter by assuming a constant amortization
   to maturity of any discount or premium, regardless of the impact of
   fluctuating interest rates on the market value of the instrument.

   WHERE TO FIND INFORMATION ABOUT SHARE PRICE

        The net asset values of the Funds are published in leading newspapers
   daily. The yields of the Money Market Funds are published weekly in leading
   financial publications and daily in many local newspapers. The net asset
   values, as well as yield information on all of the Funds and the other funds
   in the Twentieth Century family of funds, may also be obtained by calling us.

   DISTRIBUTIONS

        At the close of each day including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, net
   income of the U.S. Treasury and Agency funds and the Mortgage Securities
   Funds is determined and declared as a distribution. The distribution will be
   paid monthly. For CPF, CPF II, and the Agency Funds, dividends are declared
   and credited (i.e., available for redemption) daily and distributed monthly.

        You will begin to participate in the distributions the day AFTER your
   purchase is effective. See "When Share Price is Determined," page 29. If you
   redeem shares, you will receive the distribution declared for the day of the
   redemption. If all shares are redeemed (other than by CheckWriting), the
   distribution on the redeemed shares will be included with your redemption
   proceeds.

        Distributions from net realized capital gains, if any, generally are
   declared and paid once a year, but the Funds may make distributions on a more
   frequent basis to comply with the distribution requirements of the Internal
   Revenue Code and its Regulations, in all events in a manner consistent with
   the provisions of the 1940 Act.

        Participants in employer-sponsored retirement or savings plans must
   reinvest all distributions. For shareholders investing through taxable
   accounts, distributions will be reinvested unless you elect to receive them
   in cash. Distributions of less than $10 generally will be reinvested.
   Distributions made shortly after a purchase by check or ACH may be held up to
   15 days. You may elect to have distributions on shares held in Individual
   Retirement Accounts and 403(b) plans paid in cash only if you are 591/2 years
   old or permanently and totally disabled. Distribution checks normally are
   mailed within seven days after the record date. Please consult our Investor
   Services Guide for further information regarding your distribution options.

        The board of directors/trustees may elect not to distribute capital
   gains in whole or in part to take advantage of loss carryovers.

   TAXES

        Each Fund has elected to be taxed as a regulated investment company
   under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code, which means that to the
   extent its income is distributed to shareholders, it pays no income taxes.

   TAX-DEFERRED ACCOUNTS

        If the Funds' shares are purchased through tax-deferred accounts, such
   as a qualified employer-sponsored retirement or savings plan, income and
   capital gains distributions paid by the Funds will generally not be subject
   to current taxation, but will accumulate in your account under the plan on a
   tax-deferred basis.

        Employer-sponsored retirement and savings plans are governed by complex
   tax rules. If you elect to participate in your employer's plan, consult your
   plan administrator, your plan's summary plan description, or a professional
   tax advisor regarding the tax consequences of participation in the plan,
   contributions to, and withdrawals or distributions from the plan.
    

                                       30

   
   TAXABLE ACCOUNTS

        If Fund shares are purchased through taxable accounts, distributions of
   net investment income and net short-term capital gains are taxable to you as
   ordinary income, except as described below. The dividends from net income of
   the Funds do not qualify for the 70% dividends-received deduction for
   corporations since they are derived from interest income. Dividends
   representing income derived from tax-exempt bonds generally retain the bonds'
   tax-exempt character in a shareholder's hands. Distributions from net
   long-term capital gains are taxable as long-term capital gains regardless of
   the length of time you have held the shares on which such distributions are
   paid. However, you should note that any loss realized upon the sale or
   redemption of shares held for six months or less will be treated as a
   long-term capital loss to the extent of any distribution of long-term capital
   gain to you with respect to such shares.

        Distributions of capital gains are taxable to you regardless of whether
   they are taken in cash or reinvested, even if the value of your shares is
   below your cost. If you purchase shares shortly before a capital gain
   distribution, you must pay income taxes on the distribution, even though the
   value of your investment (plus cash received, if any) will not have
   increased. In addition, the share price at the time you purchase shares may
   include unrealized gains in the securities held in the investment portfolio
   of the Fund. If these portfolio securities are subsequently sold and the
   gains are realized, they will, to the extent not offset by capital losses, be
   paid to you as a distribution of capital gains and will be taxable to you as
   short-term or long-term capital gains.

        In January of the year following the distribution, we or your financial
   intermediary will send you a Form 1099-DIV notigying you of the status of
   your distributions for federal income tax purposes. Distributions may also be
   subject to state and local taxes, even if all or a substantial part of such
   distribution are derived from interest on U.S. government obligations which,
   if you received them directly, would be exempt from state income tax.
   However, most but not all states allow this tax exemption to pass through to
   Fund shareholders when a Fund pays distributions to its shareholders. You
   should consult your tax adviser about the tax status of such distributions in
   your own state.

        If you have not complied with certain provisions of the Internal Revenue
   Code and its Regulations, we are required by federal law to withhold and
   remit to the IRS 31% of reportable payments (which may include dividends,
   capital gains distributions and redemptions). Those regulations require you
   to certify that the social security number or tax identification number you
   provide is correct and that you are not subject to 31% withholding for
   previous under-reporting to the IRS. You will be asked to make the
   appropriate certification on your application. PAYMENTS REPORTED BY US THAT
   OMIT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER OR TAX IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WILL SUBJECT US
   TO A PENALTY OF $50, WHICH WILL BE CHARGED AGAINST YOUR ACCOUNT IF YOU FAIL
   TO PROVIDE THE CERTIFICATION BY THE TIME THE REPORT IS FILED, AND IS NOT
   REFUNDABLE.

        Redemption of shares of a Fund (including redemptions made in an
   exchange transaction) will be a taxable transaction for federal income tax
   purposes and shareholders will generally recognize a gain or loss in an
   amount equal to the difference between the basis of the shares and the amount
   received. Assuming that shareholders hold such shares as a capital asset, the
   gain or loss will be a capital gain or loss and will generally be long term
   if shareholders have held such shares for a period of more than one year. If
   a loss is realized on the redemption of Fund shares, the reinvestment in
   additional Fund shares within 30 days before or after the redemption may be
   subject to the "wash sale" rules of the Internal Revenue Code, resulting in a
   postponement of the recognition of such loss for federal income tax purposes.
    

                                       31

   
   MANAGEMENT

   INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT

        Benham Capital Preservation Fund and Benham Capital Preservation Fund II
   (the "Companies") are the assumed names of Capital Preservation Fund, Inc.
   and Capital Preservation Fund II, Inc., respectively, and are both California
   corporations. The remaining Funds are series of the Benham Government Income
   Trust, a Massachussetts business trust (the "Trust"). Under the laws of the
   Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the board of trustees is responsible for
   managing the business and affairs of the Trust. Under the laws of the State
   of California, the board of directors is responsible for managing the
   business and affairs of the Companies. The board of trustees of the Trust and
   the boards of directors of the Companies are identical in composition.

        Acting pursuant to an investment management agreement entered into with
   the Trust, Benham Management Corporation (the "Manager") serves as the
   investment manager of the Funds. Its principal place of business is 1665
   Charleston Road, Mountain View, California 94043. The Manager has been
   providing investments advisory services to investment companies and other
   clients since 1971.

        The Manager supervises and manages the investment portfolio of each of
   the Funds and directs the purchase and sale of their investment securities.
   The Manager utilizes a team of portfolio managers, assistant portfolio
   managers and analysts acting together to manage the assets of the Funds. The
   team meets regularly to review portfolio holdings and to discuss purchase and
   sale activity. The team adjusts holdings in the Funds' portfolios and the
   Funds' asset mix as it deems appropriate in pursuit of the Funds' investment
   objectives. Individual portfolio manager members of the team may also adjusts
   portfolio holdings of the Funds or of sectors of the Funds as necessary
   between team meetings.

        In June 1995, Twentieth Century Companies, Inc. ("TCC") acquired Benham
   Management International, Inc., the then-parent company of the Manager. TCC
   is the parent company of Investors Research Corporation ("IRC"), which
   provides investment management services to the Twentieth Century family of
   funds. In the acquisition, the Manager became a wholly owned subsidiary of
   TCC. Certain employees of the Manager will be providing investment management
   services to the Twentieth Century family of funds, while certain Twentieth
   Century employees provide investment management services to Benham funds.

        The portfolio manager members of the teams managing the Funds described
   in this Prospectus and their work experience for the last five years are
   listed as follows:
    
        ROBERT V. GAHAGAN has been primarily responsible for the day-to-day
   operations of the Short-Term Fund since March, 1996. He is a Vice President
   and Portfolio Manager with IRC. Mr. Gahagan has a B.A. and M.B.A. from the
   University of Missouri in Kansas City and has over 12 years of investment
   experience. He joined IRC in 1983. In addition to the Short-Term Fund, Mr.
   Gahagan manages six Twentieth Century funds in Mountain View, California, the
   fixed income headquarters for the new combined Twentieth Century/ Benham
   company.

        BRIAN HOWELL has been primarily responsible for the management of CPF
   and the Agency Fund since May, 1995. Mr. Howell joined Benham in 1987 as a
   research analyst and was promoted to his current position in January 1994.

        DENISE TOBACCO has been primarily responsible for the day-to-day
   operations of CPF II since June, 1995. Ms. Tobacco joined The Benham Group in
   1988, the Portfolio Department in 1991 and was promoted to her current
   position in 1995.

        DAVID SCHROEDER joined the Manager in 1990 and has been primarily
   responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Treasury Note Fund since
   January, 1992, the Long-Term Fund since 


                                       32


   September, 1992, and Benham Target Maturities Trust since July, 1990. Mr. 
   Schroeder has co-managed the GNMA Income Fund since January, 1996.

        CASEY COLTON has co-managed the GNMA Income Fund since January, 1994,
   and the Treasury Note Fund, the Long-Term Fund and the Target Maturities
   Trust's Funds since January, 1996.Mr. Colton joined the Manager in 1990 as a
   Municipal Analyst and was promoted to his current position in 1995. Mr.
   Colton is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

        NEWLIN RANKIN has been primarily responsible for the day-to-day
   operations of the ARM Fund since January, 1995. Mr. Rankin joined the Manager
   in 1994 and prior to that was Assistant Vice-President at Wells Fargo Bank
   from 1991 to 1993.
   
        The activities of the Manager are subject only to direction of the
   trustees or directors, as the case may be. For the services provided to the
   Funds by the Manager, CPF and CPF II each pay the Manager a monthly
   investment advisory fee equal to the dollar amount derived from applying the
   Fund's average daily net assets to an investment advisory fee schedule. Each
   series of the Trust pays the Manager a monthly investment advisory fee equal
   to its pro rata share of the dollar amount derived from applying the Trust's
   average daily net assets to an investment advisory fee schedule.

        The investment advisory fee rate ranges from .50% to .19% of average
   daily net assets, dropping as the Funds' respective assets increase.

   CODE OF ETHICS

        The Funds and the Manager have adopted a Code of Ethics, which restricts
   personal investing practices by employees of the Manager and its affiliates.
   Among other provisions, the Code of Ethics requires that employees with
   access to information about the purchase or sale of securities in the Funds'
   portfolios obtain preclearance before executing personal trades. With respect
   to portfolio managers and other investment personnel, the Code of Ethics
   prohibits acquisition of securities in an initial public offering, as well as
   profits derived from the purchase and sale of the same security within 60
   calendar days. These provisions are designed to ensure that the interests of
   the Fund shareholders come before the interests of the people who manage
   those Funds.

   TRANSFER AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

        Twentieth Century Services, Inc., 4500 Main Street, Kansas City,
   Missouri, 64111, ("TCS") acts as transfer, administrative services and
   dividend paying agent for the Funds. TCS provides facilities, equipment and
   personnel to the Funds and is paid for such services by the Funds. For
   administrative services, each Fund pays TCS a monthly fee equal to its pro
   rata share of the dollar amount derived from applying the average daily net
   assets of all of the Funds managed by the Manager. The administrative fee
   rate ranges from .11% to .08% of average daily net assets, dropping as assets
   managed by the Manager increase. For transfer agent services, each Fund pays
   TCS a monthly fee for each shareholder account maintained and for each
   shareholder transaction executed during that month.

        The Funds charge no sales commissions, or "loads," of any kind. However,
   investors who do not choose to purchase or sell Fund shares directly from TCS
   may purchase or sell Fund shares through registered broker-dealers and other
   qualified service providers, who may charge investors fees for their
   services. These broker-dealers and service providers generally provide
   shareholder, administrative and/or accounting services which would otherwise
   be provided by TCS as the Funds' transfer agent. To accommodate these
   investors, the Manager and its affiliates have entered into agreements with
   some broker-dealers and service providers to provide these services. Fees for
   such services are 
    
                                       33

   
   borne normally by the Funds at the rates normally paid to TCS, which would 
   otherwise provide the services. Any distribution expenses associated with 
   these arrangements are borne by the Manager.

        From time to time, special services may be offered to shareholders who
   maintain higher share balances in our family of funds. These services may
   include the waiver of minimum investment requirements, expedited confirmation
   of shareholder transactions, newsletters and a team of personal
   representatives. Any expenses associated with these special services will be
   paid by the Manager or its affiliates.

        The Manager and TCS are both wholly owned by Twentieth Century
   Companies, Inc. James E. Stowers Jr., Chairman of the board of directors of
   TCC, controls TCC by virtue of his ownership of a majority of its common
   stock.

   DISTRIBUTION OF FUND SHARES

        The Funds' shares are distributed by Twentieth Century Securities, Inc.
   (the "Distributor"), a registered broker-dealer and an affiliate of the
   Manager. The Manager pays all expenses for promoting sales of, and
   distributing the Fund shares offered by this Prospectus. The Funds do not pay
   any commissions or other fees to the Distributor or to any other
   broker-dealers or financial intermediaries in connection with the
   distribution of Fund shares.

   EXPENSES

        Each Fund pays certain operating expenses directly, including, but not
   limited to: custodian, audit, and legal fees; fees of the independent
   directors or trustees; costs of printing and mailing prospectuses, statements
   of additional information, proxy statements, notices, and reports to
   shareholders; insurance expenses; and costs of registering the Fund's shares
   for sale under federal and state securities laws. See the Statements of
   Additional Information for a more detailed discussion of independent
   director/trustee compensation.

   FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT
   THE FUNDS

        CPF and CPF II were organized as California corporations on October 28,
   1971 and April 2, 1980, respectively. The Trust was organized as a
   Massachusetts business trust in May 1, 1984. The CPF, CPF II and the Trust
   are diversified, open-end management investment companies. Their business and
   affairs are managed by its officers under the direction of their respective
   boards.

        The principal office of the Funds is Twentieth Century Tower, 4500 Main
   Street, P.O. Box 419200, Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6200. All inquiries made
   by mail should be directed to the address and phone numbers on the cover, or
   by phone to 1-800-345-2021. (For international callers: 816-531-5575.)

        CPF and CPF II issue shares with no par value. The remaining Funds are
   individual series of the Trust which also issues shares with no par value.
   The assets belonging to each series of shares are held separately by the
   custodian and in effect each series is a separate fund.

        Each share, irrespective of series, is entitled to one vote for each
   dollar of net asset value applicable to such share on all questions, except,
   in the case of the Trust, those matters which must be voted on separately by
   the series of shares affected. Matters affecting only one Fund are voted upon
   only by that Fund.

        Shares of the Trust have non-cumulative voting rights, which means that
   the holders of more than 50% of the shares voting for the election of
   trustees can elect all of the trustees if they choose to do so, and in such
   event the holders of the remaining less-than 50% of the shares will not be
   able to elect any person or persons to the board of trustees. Shares of the
   Companies have cumulative voting rights only to the extent conferred upon
   them by California law, which gives shareholders of the Companies the right
   to cumulate votes in the election (or removal) of the Companies' respective
   directors.
    
                                       34

   
        Unless required by the 1940 Act, it will not be necessary for the Trust
   or the Companies to hold annual meetings of shareholders. As a result,
   shareholders may not vote each year on the election of members of their
   boards or the appointment of auditors. However, pursuant to the Trust's and
   the Companies' by-laws, the holders of shares representing at least 10% of
   the votes entitled to be cast may request that the Trust or the Company, as
   the case may be, hold a special meeting of shareholders. The Trust or the
   Companies will assist in the communication with other shareholders.

        WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO CHANGE ANY OF ITS POLICIES, PRACTICES AND
   PROCEDURES DESCRIBED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, INCLUDING THE STATEMENT OF
   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, WITHOUT SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL EXCEPT IN THOSE
   INSTANCES WHERE SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL IS EXPRESSLY REQUIRED.

        THIS PROSPECTUS CONSTITUTES AN OFFER TO SELL SECURITIES OF A FUND ONLY
   IN THOSE STATES WHERE THE FUND'S SHARES HAVE BEEN REGISTERED OR OTHERWISE
   QUALIFIED FOR SALE. A FUND WILL NOT ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FROM PERSONS RESIDING
   IN STATES WHERE THE FUND'S SHARES ARE NOT REGISTERED.
    

                                       35

   
                                                          BENHAM
                                                      U.S. Treasury &
                                                     Government Funds

                                                        Prospectus
                                                     September 3, 1996

TWENTIETH CENTURY MUTUAL FUNDS 
and THE BENHAM GROUP
- --------------------------------------------

P.O. Box 419200
Kansas City, Missouri
64141-6200
- --------------------------------------------
Person-to-person assistance:
1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575
- --------------------------------------------
Automated Information Line:
1-800-345-8765
- --------------------------------------------
Telecommunications Device for the Deaf:
1-800-634-4113 or 816-753-1865
- --------------------------------------------
Fax: 816-340-7962
- --------------------------------------------
Internet: http://www.twentieth-century.com
- --------------------------------------------
                                              BENHAM GOVERNMENT INCOME TRUST
                                              CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND, INC.
                                            CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND II, INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BN-BKT-5483    [recycled logo]
9608               Recycled
    
<PAGE>
   
                         Capital Preservation Fund, Inc.
                                      d/b/a
                        BENHAM CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND

                                4500 Main Street
                              Kansas City, MO 64111


           Person-to-Person Assistance: 1-800-345-2021 or 816-531-5575
                            Automated: 1-800-345-8765


                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                                September 3, 1996


This Statement is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with the
Fund's current Prospectus dated September 3, 1996. The Fund's Annual Report for
the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996, is incorporated herein by reference. To
obtain a copy of the Prospectus or Annual Report, call or write Twentieth
Century Mutual Funds.
    

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                  Page
   
         Investment Policies and Techniques                          2
         Investment Restrictions                                     3
         Portfolio Transactions                                      4
         Valuation of Portfolio Securities                           5
         Performance                                                 6
         Taxes                                                       7
         About the Fund                                              8
         Directors and Officers                                      9
         Investment Advisory Services                               11
         Administrative and Transfer Agent Services                 12
         Direct Fund Expenses                                       13
         Expense Limitation Agreement                               13
         Additional Purchase and Redemption Information             13
         Other Information                                          14
    

                                       1


INVESTMENT POLICIES AND TECHNIQUES

The following paragraphs provide a more detailed description of the securities
and investment practices identified in the Prospectus. Unless otherwise noted,
the policies described in this Statement of Additional Information are not
fundamental and may be changed by the board of directors.

WHEN-ISSUED SECURITIES AND FORWARD COMMITMENT AGREEMENTS

The Fund may engage in securities transactions on a when-issued or forward
commitment basis in which the transaction price and yield are each fixed at the
time the commitment is made, but payment and delivery occur at a future date
(typically 15 to 45 days later).

When purchasing securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, the
Fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership, including the risks of price and
yield fluctuations. While the Fund will make commitments on a when-issued or
forward commitment basis to purchase or sell securities with the intention of
actually receiving or delivering them, it may sell the securities before the
settlement date if doing so is deemed advisable as a matter of investment
strategy.

In purchasing securities on a when-issued or forward commitment basis, the Fund
will maintain until the settlement date a segregated account consisting of cash,
U.S. government securities, and other high-quality liquid debt securities in an
amount sufficient to meet the purchase price. When the time comes to pay for
such securities, the Fund will meet its obligations with available cash, through
the sale of securities, or, although it would not normally expect to do so, by
selling the when-issued securities themselves (which may have a market value
greater or less than the Fund's payment obligation). Selling securities to meet
when-issued or forward commitment obligations may generate capital gains or
losses.

There is a risk that the party with whom the Fund enters into a forward
commitment agreement will not uphold its commitment, which could cause the Fund
to miss a favorable price or yield opportunity or to suffer a loss. To minimize
this risk, Benham Management Corporation (BMC) limits when-issued or forward
commitment transactions to 30% of the Fund's net assets of which no more than
10% of the Fund's net assets may be committed to transactions in which the
settlement date occurs more than 30 days after the trade date. The Fund will
establish a segregated account as described above to meet all payment
obligations arising as a result of these types of transactions.

ROLL TRANSACTIONS

The Fund may sell a security and at the same time make a commitment to purchase
the same or a comparable security at a future date and specified price.
Conversely, the Fund may purchase a security and at the same time make a
commitment to sell the same or a comparable security at a future date and
specified price. These types of transactions are executed simultaneously in what
are known as "dollar-rolls", "cash and carry" or financing transactions. For
example, a broker-dealer may seek to purchase a particular security that the
Fund owns. The Fund will sell that security to the broker-dealer and
simultaneously enter into an agreement to buy it back at a future date. This
type of transaction generates income for the Fund if the dealer is willing to
execute the transaction at a favorable price in order to acquire a specific
security. As an operating policy, the Fund will limit roll transactions to 30%
of net assets.


                                       2


In engaging in roll transactions, the Fund will maintain until the settlement
date a segregated account consisting of cash, cash equivalents, or high-quality
liquid debt securities in an amount sufficient to meet the purchase price, as
described above.

INVESTMENT RESTRICTIONS

The Fund's investment restrictions set forth below are fundamental and may not
be changed without the approval of a majority of the outstanding voting
securities of the Fund as determined in accordance with the Investment Company
Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act"). Unless otherwise indicated, percentage limitations
included in the restrictions apply at the time the Fund enters into a
transaction.

THE FUND MAY NOT:

(1)  Purchase the securities of any issuer (other than securities issued or
     guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities) if,
     as a result (a) more than 5% of its total assets would be invested in the
     securities of that issuer, or (b) the Fund would hold more than 10% of the
     outstanding voting securities of that issuer.

(2)  Borrow amounts in excess of 10% of the cost or 5% of the market value of
     its total assets, whichever is less, and then only from a bank and as a
     temporary measure for extraordinary or emergency purposes. To secure any
     such borrowing, the Fund may pledge or hypothecate not in excess of 15% of
     the value of its total assets.

(3)  Act as an underwriter of securities issued by others.
   
(4)  Invest more than 25% of its assets in any one industry (this restriction
     does not apply to securities of the U.S. government or its
     instrumentalities or agencies or to certificates of deposit or bankers'
     acceptances of U.S.
     commercial banks having assets over $10 billion).
    
(5)  Purchase or sell real estate, commodities, or commodity contracts, or buy 
     or sell foreign exchange.

(6)  Engage in any short-selling operations.

(7)  Lend money other than through the purchase of debt securities in accordance
     with its investment policies (management considers that this restriction
     precludes purchase of other than publicly held debt securities).

(8)  Purchase any equity securities in any companies, including warrants or
     bonds with warrants attached, or any preferred stocks, convertible bonds,
     or convertible debentures.

(9)  Purchase any debt securities that are not rated AA or AAA, or the
     equivalent thereof, by either of the major statistical rating services
     (Moody's or Standard & Poor's) or that, in the Fund's opinion, are the
     equivalent thereof.

(10) Engage in margin transactions or in transactions involving puts, calls,
     straddles, or spreads.

(11) Purchase securities for which the Fund might be liable for further payment 
     or liability.

                                       3


(12) Invest in portfolio securities that the Fund may not be free to sell to the
     public without registering under the Securities Act of 1933 or taking
     similar action under other securities laws.

(13) Issue or sell any class of senior security, except to the extent that notes
     evidencing temporary borrowing might be deemed such.

(14) Acquire or retain the securities of any other investment company.

(15) Purchase securities of companies in which directors or management personnel
     of the Fund or its advisor have a substantial interest. (The Fund may not
     purchase or retain securities of any company in which an officer or
     director of the Fund or its advisor is an officer, director, or security
     holder if such officers and directors who individually own beneficially
     more than one-half of one percent (0.5%) of the shares or securities of
     such company together own beneficially more than 5% of the shares or
     securities of such company. Portfolio securities of the Fund may not be
     purchased from or sold to the Fund's advisor or its directors, officers, or
     employees.)

The Fund is also subject to the following restrictions that are not fundamental
and may therefore be changed by the board of directors without shareholder
approval.

THE FUND MAY NOT:

(a)  Pledge, mortgage, or hypothecate in excess of 10% of its total assets at 
     market value.

(b)  Acquire securities for the purpose of exercising control over management.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

The Fund's assets are invested by BMC in a manner consistent with the Fund's
investment objectives, policies, and restrictions and with any instructions the
board of directors may issue from time to time. Within this framework, BMC is
responsible for making all determinations as to the purchase and sale of
portfolio securities and for taking all steps necessary to implement securities
transactions on behalf of the Fund.

In placing orders for the purchase and sale of portfolio securities, BMC will
use its best efforts to obtain the best possible price and execution and will
otherwise place orders with broker-dealers subject to and in accordance with any
instructions that the board of directors may issue from time to time. BMC will
select broker-dealers to execute portfolio transactions on behalf of the Fund
solely on the basis of best price and execution.

U.S. government securities generally are traded in the over-the-counter market
through broker-dealers. A broker-dealer is a securities firm or bank that makes
a market for securities by offering to buy at one price and sell at a slightly
higher price. The difference between the prices is known as a spread.

On behalf of the Fund, BMC transacts in round lots ($100,000 to $10 million or
more) whenever possible. Since commissions are not charged for round-lot
transactions of U.S. Treasury securities, the Fund's transaction costs consist
solely of custodian charges and dealer mark-ups. The Fund may hold its portfolio
securities to maturity or sell or swap them for other securities, depending upon
the level and slope of, and anticipated changes in, the yield curve. The Fund
paid no brokerage commissions during the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996.


                                       4


VALUATION OF PORTFOLIO SECURITIES
   
The Fund's net asset value per share ("NAV") is calculated by Twentieth Century
Services, Inc. (TCS), as of the close of business of the New York Stock Exchange
(the "Exchange") each day the Exchange is open for business, usually at 3:00
p.m. Central Time. The Exchange has designated the following holiday closings
for 1996: New Year's Day (observed), Presidents` Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day,
Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day (observed).
Although TCS expects the same holiday schedule to be observed in the future, the
Exchange may modify its holiday schedule at any time.
    
The Fund declares as daily dividends substantially all of its net income, plus
or minus any recognizable gains or losses. Net income equals the return on the
Fund's investment portfolio minus Fund expenses. Income and expenses are accrued
daily.

Securities held by the Fund are valued on the basis of amortized cost. This
method involves valuing an instrument at its cost and thereafter assuming a
constant amortization to maturity of any discount or premium paid at the time of
purchase. Although this method provides certainty in valuation, it generally
disregards the effect of fluctuating interest rates on an instrument's market
value. Consequently, the instrument's amortized cost value may be higher or
lower than its market value, and this discrepancy may be reflected in the Fund's
yield. During periods of declining interest rates, for example, the daily yield
on Fund shares computed as described above may be higher than that of a fund
with identical investments priced at market value. The converse would apply in
periods of rising interest rates.

BMC typically completes its trading on behalf of the Fund in various markets
before the NYSE closes for the day. The amortized cost valuation method is
permitted in accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
Under the Rule, a fund such as CPF, holding itself out as a money market fund,
must adhere to certain quality and maturity criteria. In particular, such a fund
must limit its investments to U.S. dollar-denominated instruments that are
determined by its board of directors or trustees to present minimal credit risks
and that are (a) high-grade obligations rated in accordance with applicable
rules in one of the two highest rating categories for short-term obligations by
at least two rating agencies (or by one if only one has rated the obligation),
or (b) unrated obligations judged by the advisor, under the direction of the
fund's board of directors or trustees, to be of comparable quality. Further,
pursuant to Rule 2a-7, a money market fund must maintain a dollar-weighted
average portfolio maturity of 90 days or less and may not purchase instruments
with remaining maturities in excess of 397 days. As an operating policy, the
Fund maintains a dollar-weighted average maturity of 60 days or less.

The directors have established procedures designed to stabilize, to the extent
reasonably possible, the Fund's NAV at $1.00 per share. These procedures require
the Fund's chief financial officer to notify the directors immediately if, at
any time, the Fund's weighted average maturity exceeds 60 days or its NAV, as
determined by using available market quotations, deviates from its amortized
cost per share by .25% or more. If such deviation exceeds .40%, a meeting of the
board of directors' audit committee will be called to consider what actions, if
any, should be taken. If such deviation exceeds .50%, the Fund's chief financial
officer is instructed to adjust daily dividend distributions immediately to the
extent necessary to reduce the deviation to .50% or lower and to call a meeting
of the board of directors to consider further action.


                                       5


Actions the board may consider under these circumstances include but are not
limited to (a) selling portfolio securities prior to maturity; (b) withholding
dividends or distributions from capital; (c) authorizing a one-time dividend
adjustment; (d) discounting share purchases and initiating redemptions in kind;
or (e) valuing portfolio securities at market value for purposes of calculating
NAV.

PERFORMANCE

The Fund's yield and total return may be quoted in advertising and sales
literature. Yield and total return will vary, and past performance should not be
considered an indication of future results.

Yield quotations for the Fund are based on the change in the value of a
hypothetical investment (excluding realized gains and losses from the sale of
securities and unrealized appreciation and depreciation of securities) over a
seven-day period (base period) and stated as a percentage of the investment at
the start of the base period (base-period return). The base-period return is
then annualized by multiplying it by 365/7, with the resulting yield figure
carried to at least the nearest hundredth of one percent.

Calculations of effective yield begin with the same base-period return used to
calculate yield, but the return is then annualized to reflect weekly compounding
according to the following formula:
                                                         365/7
              Effective Yield = [(Base-Period Return + 1)      ] - 1

For the seven-day period ended March 31, 1996, the Fund's yield was 4.64%, and
its effective yield was 4.74%.

Total return quoted in advertising and sales literature reflect all aspects of
the Fund's return, including the effect of reinvesting dividends and capital
gain distributions and any change in the Fund's net asset value during the
period.

Average annual total return is calculated by determining the growth or decline
in value of a hypothetical historical investment in the Fund over a stated
period and then calculating the annually compounded percentage rate that would
have produced the same result if the rate of growth or decline in value had been
constant throughout the period. For example, a cumulative total return of 100%
over 10 years would produce an average annual total return of 7.18%, which is
the steady annual rate that would equal 100% growth on a compounded basis in 10
years. While average annual total returns are a convenient means of comparing
investment alternatives, investors should realize that the Fund's performance is
not constant over time, but changes from year to year, and that average annual
total returns represent averaged figures as opposed to actual year-to-year
performance.

In addition to average annual total returns, the Fund may quote unaveraged or
cumulative total returns reflecting the simple change in value of an investment
over a stated period. Average annual and cumulative total returns may be quoted
as a percentage or as a dollar amount and may be calculated for a single
investment, a series of investments, or a series of redemptions over any time
period. Performance information may be quoted numerically or in a table, graph,
or similar illustration.


                                       6


The Fund's performance may be compared with the performance of other mutual
funds tracked by mutual fund rating services or with other indexes of market
performance. This may include comparisons with funds that, unlike Benham funds,
are sold with a sales charge or deferred sales charge. Sources of economic data
that may be considered in making such comparisons may include, but are not
limited to, U.S. Treasury bill, note, and bond yields, money market fund yields,
U.S. government debt and percentage held by foreigners, the U.S. money supply,
net free reserves, and yields on current-coupon GNMAs (source: Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System); the federal funds and discount rates
(source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York); yield curves for U.S. Treasury
securities and AA/AAA-rated corporate securities (source: Bloomberg Financial
Markets); yield curves for AAA-rated tax-free municipal securities (source:
Telerate); yield curves for foreign government securities (sources: Bloomberg
Financial Markets and Data Resources, Inc.); total returns on foreign bonds
(source: J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.); various U.S. and foreign government
reports; the junk bond market (source: Data Resources, Inc.); the CRB Futures
Index (source: Commodity Index Report); the price of gold (sources: London
a.m./p.m. fixing and New York Comex Spot Price); rankings of any mutual fund or
mutual fund category tracked by Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. or Morningstar,
Inc.; mutual fund rankings published in major nationally distributed
periodicals; data provided by the Investment Company Institute; Ibbotson
Associates, Stocks, Bonds, Bills, and Inflation; major indexes of stock market
performance; and indexes and historical data supplied by major securities
brokerage or investment advisory firms. The Fund may also utilize reprints from
newspapers and magazines furnished by third parties to illustrate historical
performance.

The Fund's shares are sold without a sales charge (or load). No-load funds offer
an advantage to investors when compared to load funds with comparable investment
objectives and strategies. If an investor pays $10,000 to buy shares of a load
fund with an 8.5% sales charge, $850 of that $10,000 is paid as a commission to
a salesperson, leaving only $9,150 to put to work for the investor. Over time,
the difference between paying a sales load and not paying one can have a
significant effect on an investor's total return. The Mutual Fund Education
Alliance provides a comparison of $10,000 invested in each of two mutual funds,
one with an 8.5% sales load and one without a sales load. Assuming a compounded
annual growth rate of 10% for both investments, the no-load fund investment is
worth $25,937 after ten years, and the load fund investment is worth only
$23,732.

The Fund may quote performance in various ways. Historical performance
information will be used in advertising and sales literature and is not
indicative of future results. The Fund's share price, yield and return will vary
with changing market conditions.

BMC may obtain Fund ratings from one or more rating agencies and may publish
these ratings in advertisements and sales literature.

TAXES

The Fund intends to qualify each year as a "regulated investment company" under
Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, (the "Code"). By
so qualifying, the Fund will not incur federal income or state taxes on its net
investment income and on net realized capital gains to the extent distributed as
dividends to shareholders.

                                       7


Amounts not distributed on a timely basis in accordance with a calendar year
distribution requirement are subject to a nondeductible 4% excise tax at the
Fund level. To avoid the tax, the Fund must distribute during each calendar year
an amount equal to the sum of (a) at least 98% of its ordinary income (not
taking into account any capital gains or losses) for the calendar year, (b) at
least 98% of its capital gains in excess of capital losses (adjusted for certain
ordinary losses) for a one-year period generally ending on October 31st of the
calendar year, and (c) all ordinary income and capital gains for previous years
that were not distributed during such years.

Under the Code, dividends derived from interest, and any short-term capital
gains, are taxable to shareholders as ordinary income for federal and state tax
purposes, regardless of whether such dividends are taken in cash or reinvested
in additional shares. Distributions made from the Fund's net realized long-term
capital gains (if any) and designated as capital gain dividends are taxable to
shareholders as long-term capital gains, regardless of the length of time shares
are held. Corporate investors are not eligible for the dividends-received
deduction with respect to distributions from the Fund. A distribution will be
treated as paid on December 31st of a calendar year if it is declared by the
Fund in October, November or December of the year with a record date in such a
month and paid by the Fund during January of the following year. Such
distributions will be taxable to shareholders in the calendar year the
distributions are declared, rather than the calendar year in which the
distributions are received.

In most states, dividends paid by the Fund are exempt from state personal income
taxes to the extent that the Fund derives its income from debt securities of the
U.S. government, which generate interest payments that are state tax-exempt.

The information above is only a summary of some of the tax considerations
generally affecting the Fund and its shareholders. No attempt has been made to
discuss individual tax consequences. To determine whether the Fund is a suitable
investment based on his or her tax situation, a prospective investor may wish to
consult a tax advisor.

ABOUT THE FUND
   
Capital Preservation Fund Inc., doing business as Benham Capital Preservation
Fund, was organized as a California corporation on October 28, 1971. The Fund is
authorized to issue ten billion (10,000,000,000) shares of common stock, which
may be issued in two or more series. Of the ten billion shares, five billion
(5,000,000,000) are designated "Series A Common Stock." The remaining five
billion shares may be designated and classified as additional series from time
to time at the discretion of the board of directors.
    
Each share of Series A Common Stock is entitled to one vote and to equal
participation in dividends and distributions. Fund shares are fully paid and
nonassessable when issued and have no preemptive, conversion, exchange, or
similar rights.  Fund shares are transferable without restriction.

Each shareholder is entitled to cast one vote for each share held in his or her
name as of the record date for a shareholder meeting. Under California
Corporations Code, Section 708, shareholders have the right to cumulate votes in
the election (or removal) of directors. For example, if six directors are
proposed for election, a shareholder may cast six votes for a single candidate,
or three votes for each of two candidates, etc.


                                       8

   
CUSTODIAN BANK: State Street Bank and Trust Company, 225 Franklin Street,
Boston, MA 02101, is custodian of the Fund's assets. Services provided by the
custodian bank include (a) settling portfolio purchases and sales, (b) reporting
failed trades, (c) identifying and collecting portfolio income, and (d)
providing safekeeping of securities. The custodian takes no part in determining
the Fund's investment policies or in determining which securities are sold or
purchased by the Fund. Effective October 7, 1996, Chase Manhattan Bank, 4 Chase
Metrotech Center, Brooklyn, NY 11245 will provide the custodian services for the
Fund.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS: KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, 1000 Walnut, Suite 1600, Kansas 
City, Missouri 64106, serves as the Fund's independent auditors and
provides services including (a) audit of annual financial statements and (b)
preparation of annual federal income tax returns filed on behalf of the Fund.
    
DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
   
The Fund's activities are overseen by a board of directors, including seven
independent directors. The individuals listed below whose names are marked by an
asterisk (*) are "interested persons" of the Fund (as defined in the 1940 Act)
by virtue of, among other things, their affiliation with either the Fund; the
Fund's investment advisor, Benham Management Corporation (BMC); the Fund's agent
for transfer and administrative services, Twentieth Century Service (TCS); the
Fund's distribution agent, Twentieth Century Securities; the parent corporation,
Twentieth Century Companies, Inc. (TCC) or TCC's subsidiaries; or other funds
advised by BMC. Each director listed below serves as a trustee or director of
other funds managed by BMC. Unless otherwise noted, a date in parentheses
indicates the date the director or officer began his or her service in a
particular capacity. The directors' and officers' address with the exception of
Mr. Stowers III and Ms. Roepke is 1665 Charleston Road, Mountain View,
California 94043. The address of Mr. Stowers III and Ms. Roepke is 4500 Main
Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.
    
DIRECTORS
   
*JAMES M. BENHAM, chairman of the board of directors (1971), president and chief
executive officer (1996). Mr. Benham is also chairman of the boards of Benham
Financial Services, Inc. (BFS) (1985), BMC (1971), and BDI (1988); president of
BMC (1971), and Benham Distributors, Inc. (BDI) (1988); and a member of the
board of governors of the Investment Company Institute (1988). Mr. Benham has
been in the securities business since 1963, and he frequently comments through
the media on economic conditions, investment strategies, and the securities
markets.
    
ALBERT A. EISENSTAT, independent director (1995). Mr. Eisenstat is an
independent director of each of Commercial Metals Co. (1982), Sungard Data
Systems (1991) and Business Objects S/A (1994). Previously, he served as vice
president of corporate development and corporate secretary of Apple Computer and
served on its Board of Directors (1985 to 1993).

RONALD J. GILSON, independent director (1995); Charles J. Meyers Professor of
Law and Business at Stanford Law School (1979) and the Mark and Eva Stern
Professor of Law and Business at Columbia University School of Law (1992). He is
counsel to Marron, Reid & Sheehy (a San Francisco law firm, 1984).


                                       9


MYRON S. SCHOLES, independent director (1981). Mr. Scholes is a principal of
Long-Term Capital Management (1993). He is also Frank E. Buck Professor of
Finance at the Stanford Graduate School of Business (1983) and a director of
Dimensional Fund Advisors (1982) and the Smith Breeden Family of Funds (1992).
From August 1991 to June 1993, Mr. Scholes was a managing director of Salomon
Brothers Inc. (securities brokerage).

KENNETH E. SCOTT, independent director (1971). Mr. Scott is Ralph M. Parsons
Professor of Law and Business at Stanford Law School (1972) and a director of
RCM Capital Funds, Inc. (June 1994).

EZRA SOLOMON, independent director (1978). Mr. Solomon is Dean Witter Professor
of Finance Emeritus at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he served
as Dean Witter Professor of Finance from 1965 to 1990, and a director of
Encyclopedia Britannica.

ISAAC STEIN, independent director (1992). Mr. Stein is former chairman of the
board (1990 to 1992) and chief executive officer (1991 to 1992) of Esprit de
Corp. (clothing manufacturer). He is a member of the board of Raychem
Corporation (electrical equipment, 1993), president of Waverley Associates, Inc.
(private investment firm, 1983), and a director of ALZA Corporation
(pharmaceuticals, 1987). He is also a trustee of Stanford University (1994) and
chairman of Stanford Health Services (hospital, 1994).

*JAMES E. STOWERS III, director (1995). Mr. Stowers III is president and
director of Twentieth Century Investors, Inc., TCI Portfolios, Inc., Twentieth
Century World Investors, Inc., Twentieth Century Premium Reserves, Inc.,
Twentieth Century Capital Portfolios, Inc., Twentieth Century Companies, Inc.,
Investors Research Corporation and Twentieth Century Services, Inc.

JEANNE D. WOHLERS, independent director (1989). Ms. Wohlers is a private
investor and an independent director and partner of Windy Hill Productions, LP.
Previously, she served as vice president and chief financial officer of Sybase,
Inc. (software company, 1988 to 1992).

OFFICERS

*JAMES M. BENHAM, president and chief executive officer (1996).

*DOUGLAS A. PAUL, secretary (1988), vice president (1990), and general counsel
(1990); secretary, vice president and general counsel of BMC, BFS, BDI and all
of the funds in the Benham Group.

*ANN N. McCOID, CPA, controller (1987); controller of BFS and all of the funds
in the Benham Group.

*MARYANNE ROEPKE, CPA, chief financial officer and treasurer (1995); vice
president, treasurer and principal accounting officer, Twentieth Century
Strategic Asset Allocations; vice president and treasurer, Twentieth Century
Investors, Inc., Twentieth Century World Investors, Inc., Twentieth Century
Capital Portfolios, Inc., Twentieth Century Premium Reserves, Inc. and TCI
Portfolios, Inc.; vice president, Twentieth Century Services, Inc.
   
The table on the next page summarizes the compensation that the directors of
Capital Preservation Fund received from the Fund for the Fund's fiscal year
ended March 31, 1996, as well as the compensation received for serving as a
director or trustee of all other funds managed by BMC.
    

                                       10

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                DIRECTOR COMPENSATION FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED
                                                    MARCH 31, 1996

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Name of                Aggregate             Pension or               Estimated                 Total
     Director*             Compensation        Retirement Benefits       Annual Benefits          Compensation
                               From            Accrued As Part of        Upon Retirement          From Fund and
                             The Fund             Fund Expenses                                  Fund Complex**
                                                                                                Paid to Directors
<S>                           <C>                <C>                     <C>                         <C>    
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ronald J. Gilson              $ 8,759            Not Applicable          Not Applicable              $79,833
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Albert A. Eisenstat           $ 1,619            Not Applicable          Not Applicable              $29,500
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Myron S. Scholes              $10,740            Not Applicable          Not Applicable              $69,500
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kenneth E. Scott              $12,282            Not Applicable          Not Applicable              $75,773
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ezra Solomon                  $10,654            Not Applicable          Not Applicable              $70,249
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Isaac Stein                   $10,842            Not Applicable          Not Applicable              $70,500
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jeanne D. Wohlers             $11,033            Not Applicable          Not Applicable              $71,250
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

*  Interested directors receive no compensation for their services as such.
   
** Twentieth Century family of funds includes 68 no-load mutual funds.
    
As of July 31, 1996, the Fund's officers and directors, as a group, owned less
than 1% of the outstanding shares of the Fund.

INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES

The Fund has an investment advisory agreement with BMC dated June 1, 1995, that
was approved by shareholders on May 31, 1995.
   
BMC is a California corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of TCC, a Delaware
corporation. BMC, as well as BFS and BDI, became wholly owned subsidiaries of
TCC on June 1, 1995, upon the merger of Benham Management International (BMI),
the former parent of BMC, BFS and BDI, into TCC. BMC has served as investment
advisor to the Fund since the Fund's inception. TCC is a holding company that
owns all of the stock of the operating companies that provide the investment
management, transfer agency, shareholder service, and other services for the
Twentieth Century family of funds. James E. Stowers, Jr., controls TCC by virtue
of his ownership of a majority of its common stock. BMC has been a registered
investment advisor since 1971 and is investment advisor to the rest of Twentieth
Century's Benham brand mutual funds.
    
The Fund's agreement with BMC continues for an initial period of two years and
thereafter from year to year provided that, after the initial two-year period,
it is approved at least annually by vote of a majority of the Fund's outstanding
shares or by vote of a majority of the Fund's directors, including a majority of
those directors who are neither parties to the agreement nor interested persons
of any such party, cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting
on such approval.

The investment advisory agreement is terminable on sixty days' written notice,
either by the Fund or by BMC, to the other party, and terminates automatically
in the event of its assignment.

                                       11


Pursuant to the investment advisory agreement, BMC provides the Fund with
investment advice and portfolio management services in accordance with the
Fund's investment objectives, policies, and restrictions. The agreement also
provides that BMC will determine what securities will be purchased and sold by
the Fund and assist the Fund's officers in carrying out decisions made by the
board of directors.

For these services, the Fund pays BMC a monthly investment advisory fee based on
applying the Fund's average daily net assets to the following investment
advisory fee rate schedule:

     .50% of the first $100 million 
     .45% of the next $100 million 
     .40% of the next $100 million 
     .35% of the next $100 million 
     .30% of the next $100 million 
     .25% of the next $1 billion 
     .24% of the next $1 billion 
     .23% of the next $1 billion 
     .22% of the next $1 billion 
     .21% of the next $1 billion 
     .20% of the next $1 billion
     .19% of average daily net assets over $6.5 billion

Investment advisory fees paid by the Fund to BMC for the fiscal periods ended
March 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, are indicated in the following table.

FISCAL PERIOD                       INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEES

Year ended 3/31/96                         $8,039,420
Year ended 3/31/95                          7,631,805
Year ended 3/31/94                          7,677,592

The Fund's fiscal year-end was changed from September 30 to March 31 in 1993.

TRANSFER AND ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
   
Twentieth Century Services, Inc., 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri,
64111, (TCS) acts as transfer, administrative services and dividend paying agent
for the Fund. TCS provides facilities, equipment and personnel to the Fund and
is paid for such services by the Fund. For administrative services, each Fund
pays TCS a monthly fee equal to its pro rata share of the dollar amount derived
from applying the average daily net assets of all of the Fund managed by the
Manager to the following administrative fee rate schedule:
    
GROUP ASSETS                     ADMINISTRATIVE FEE RATE

up to $4.5 billion                       .11%
up to $6 billion                         .10
up to $9 billion                         .09
over $9 billion                          .08


                                       12

   
For transfer agent services, the Fund pays TCS a monthly fee of $1.3958 for each
shareholder account maintained and $1.35 for each shareholder transaction
executed during the month.

Administrative service and transfer agent fees paid by the Fund for the fiscal
periods ended March 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994, are indicated in the following
table:
    
FISCAL PERIOD               ADMINISTRATIVE FEES        TRANSFER AGENCY FEES

Year ended 3/31/96              $2,896,754                  $2,536,792
Year ended 3/31/95               2,781,843                   2,582,343
Year ended 3/31/94               2,759,738                   2,728,965

DIRECT FUND EXPENSES
   
The Fund pays certain operating expenses that are not assumed by BMC or TCS.
These include fees and expenses of the independent directors; custodian, audit,
tax preparation and pricing fees; fees of outside counsel and counsel employed
directly by the Fund; costs of printing and mailing prospectuses, statements of
additional information, proxy statements, notices, confirmations, and reports to
shareholders; fees for registering the Fund's shares under federal and state
securities laws; brokerage fees and commissions; trade association dues; costs
of fidelity and liability insurance policies covering the Fund; costs for
incoming WATS lines maintained to receive and handle shareholder inquiries; and
organizational costs.
    
EXPENSE LIMITATION AGREEMENT

Under an Expense Limitation Agreement between the Fund and BMC, BMC is obligated
to limit the Fund's expenses to .53% of average daily net assets through May 31,
1997.

The Expense Limitation Agreement provides that BMC may recover amounts
(representing expenses in excess of the contractual limit) reimbursed to the
Fund during the preceding 11 months if, and to the extent that, for any given
month, the Fund's expenses were less than the contractual expense limitation in
effect at that time.

The expense limit is subject to annual renewal. The expense limits for the years
ended May 31, 1996 and 1995, were .54% and .57% respectively, of average daily
net assets

The former and current expense limitation agreements described above did not and
do not apply to extraordinary expenses such as brokerage commissions and taxes.

For the fiscal periods ended March 31, 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1993, and September
30, 1992, BMC and BFS paid no reimbursements to the Fund and recouped no
reimbursements previously paid to the Fund.

ADDITIONAL PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION INFORMATION

The Fund's shares are continuously offered at net asset value. Share
certificates are issued (without charge) only when requested in writing.
Certificates are not issued for fractional shares. Dividend and voting rights
are not affected by the issuance of certificates.


                                       13

   
Twentieth Century may reject or limit the amount of an investment to prevent any
one shareholder or affiliated group from controlling the Fund or one of its
portfolios; to avoid jeopardizing the Fund's tax status; or whenever, in
management's opinion, such rejection is in the Fund's best interest.

As of July 31, 1996, to the knowledge of the Fund, no shareholder was the record
holder or beneficial owner of 5% or more of the Fund's total shares outstanding.

TCS charges neither fees nor commissions on the purchase and sale of fund
shares. However, TCS may charge fees for special services requested by a
shareholder or necessitated by acts or omissions of a shareholder. For example,
TCS may charge a fee for processing dishonored investment checks or stop-payment
requests. See the Shareholder Services Guide for more information.
    
Share purchases and redemptions are governed by California law.

OTHER INFORMATION

BMC has been continuously registered with the Securities Exchange Commission
(SEC) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 since December 14, 1971. The
Fund has filed a registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933 and the
1940 Act with respect to the shares offered. Such registrations do not imply
approval or supervision of the Fund or the advisor by the SEC.

For further information, please refer to the registration statement and exhibits
on file with the SEC in Washington, D.C. These documents are available upon
payment of a reproduction fee. Statements in the Prospectus and in this
Statement of Additional Information concerning the contents of contracts or
other documents, copies of which are filed as exhibits to the registration
statement, are qualified by reference to such contracts or documents.


                                       14
<PAGE>
CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND, INC.


1933 Act Post-Effective Amendment No. 65
1940 Act Amendment No. 65
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PART C            OTHER INFORMATION

Item 24. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a)      FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.  Audited financial statements for Capital 
         Preservation Fund, Inc. for the fiscal year ended March 31, 1996, are
         filed herein as included in the Statement of Additional Information by
         reference to the Annual Report dated March 31, 1996, filed on May 24,
         1996 (Accession # 0000017271-96-000004).

(b)      EXHIBITS.

         (1) Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation dated June 15, 1995
             are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 of Post-Effective
             Amendment No. 64 filed on May 29, 1996 (Accession 
             # 0000017271-96-000005).

         (2) Amended and Restated Bylaws dated May 31, 1995 are incorporated
             herein by reference to Exhibit 2 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 64
             filed on May 29, 1996 (Accession # 0000017271-96-000005).

         (3) Not applicable.

         (4) Specimen copy of Capital Preservation Fund, Inc. share certificate
             is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4 to Post-Effective
             Amendment No. 34.

         (5) Investment Advisory Agreement between Capital Preservation Fund,
             Inc. and Benham Management Corporation, dated June 1, 1995, is
             incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 5 of Post-Effective
             Amendment No. 64 filed on May 29, 1996 (Accession 
             # 0000017271-96-000005).

         (6) Distribution Agreement between Capital Preservation Fund, Inc. and
             Twentieth Century Securities, Inc. dated as of September 3, 1996,
             is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 6 of Post-Effective
             Amendment No. 29 to the Registration Statement of the Benham
             Government Income Trust filed on August 30, 1996 (Accession #
             ____________).

         (7) Not applicable.

         (8) Custodian Agreement between Capital Preservation Fund, Inc. and
             State Street Bank & Trust Company, dated August 10, 1993, Amendment
             No. 1 dated December 1, 1994 to the Custodian Agreement and
             Amendment No. 2 dated March 4, 1996 to the Custodian Agreement are
             incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8 of Post-Effective Amendment
             No. 7 to the Registration Statement of Benham International Funds
             filed on April 22, 1996 (Accession # 880268-96-000010).

         (9) Administrative Services and Transfer Agency Agreement between
             Capital Preservation Fund, Inc. and Twentieth Century Services,
             Inc. dated as of September 3, 1996,. is incorporated herein by
             reference to Exhibit 9 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 to the
             Registration Statement of the Benham Government Income Trust filed
             on August 30, 1996 (Accession # ____________).

         (10)Opinion and consent of counsel as to the legality of the
             securities being registered, dated May 16, 1996 is incorporated
             herein by reference to Rule 24f-2 Notice filed on May 16, 1996
             (Accession # 0000017271-96-000003).

         (11)Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick, independent auditors, is included
             herein.

         (12)Not applicable.

         (13)Not applicable.

         (14)(a) Benham Individual Retirement Account Plan, including all
                 instructions and other relevant documents, dated February
                 1992, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 14(a) to
                 Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 filed on September 25, 1992.

             (b) Benham Pension/Profit Sharing Plan, including all
                 instructions and other relevant documents, dated February
                 1992, is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 14(b) to
                 Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 filed on September 25, 1992.

         (15)Not applicable.

         (16)Schedule for computation of each performance quotation provided in
             response to Item 22 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
             16 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 64 filed on May 29, 1996
             (Accession # 0000017271-96-000005).

         (17)Power of Attorney dated March 4, 1996 is incorporated herein by
             reference to Exhibit 17 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 64 filed on
             May 29, 1996 (Accession # 0000017271-96-000005).


Item 25. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant.

Not applicable.


Item 26. Number of Holders of Securities.

As of July 31, 1996, Capital Preservation Fund, Inc. had 89,006 shareholders 
of record.


Item 27. Indemnification.

Under the laws of the State of California, the Directors are entitled and
empowered to purchase insurance for and to provide by resolution or in the
Bylaws for indemnification out of Corporation assets for liability and for all
expenses reasonably incurred or paid or expected to be paid by a Director or
officer in connection with any claim, action, suit, or proceeding in which he or
she becomes involved by virtue of his or her capacity or former capacity with
the Corporation. The provisions, including any exceptions and limitations
concerning indemnification, may be set forth in detail in the Bylaws or in a
resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.

Registrant hereby incorporates by reference, as though set forth fully herein,
Article VI of the Registrant's Bylaws, amended on May 17, 1995, appearing as
Exhibit 2 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 64 filed on May 29, 1996 (Accession #
0000017271-96-000005).


Item 28. Business and Other Connections of Investment Advisor.

The Registrant's investment advisor, Benham Management Corporation, provides
investment advisory services for various collective investment vehicles and
institutional clients and serves as investment advisor to a number of open-end
investment companies.


Item 29. Principal Underwriters.

The Registrant's distribution agent, Twentieth Century Securities, Inc., is
distribution agent to Capital Preservation Fund, Inc., Capital Preservation Fund
II, Inc., Benham California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds, Benham Government
Income Trust, Benham Municipal Trust, Benham Target Maturities Trust, Benham
Equity Funds, Benham International Funds, Benham Investment Trust, Benham
Manager Funds, TCI Portfolios, Inc., Twentieth Century Capital Portfolios, Inc.,
Twentieth Century Investors, Inc., Twentieth Century Premium Reserves, Inc.,
Twentieth Century Strategic Allocations, Inc. and Twentieth Century World
Investors, Inc. The information required with respect to each director, officer
or partner of Twentieth Century Securities is incorporated herein by reference
to Twentieth Century Securities' Form B-D filed on November 21, 1985 (SEC File
No. 8-35220; Firm CRD No. 17437).


Item 30. Location of Accounts and Records.

Benham Management Corporation, the Registrant's investment advisor, maintains
its principal office at 1665 Charleston Road, Mountain View, CA 94043. The
Registrant and its agent for transfer and administrative services, Twentieth
Century Services, maintain their principal office at 4500 Main St., Kansas City,
MO 64111. Twentieth Century Services maintains physical possession of each
account, book, or other document, and shareholder records as required by
ss.31(a) of the 1940 Act and rules thereunder. The computer and data base for
shareholder records are located at Central Computer Facility, 401 North Broad
Street, Sixth Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19108.


Item 31. Management Services.

Not applicable.


Item 32. Undertakings.

The Registrant undertakes to furnish each person to whom a Prospectus is
delivered with a copy of the Registrant's latest report to shareholders, upon
request and without charge.

<PAGE>
                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment
Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has duly caused this Post-Effective
Amendment No. 65/Amendment No. 65 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Mountain View, and State of
California, on the 30th day of August, 1996. I hereby certify that this
Amendment meets the requirements for immediate effectiveness pursuant to Rule
485(b).

                              CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND, INC.


                              By:/s/ Douglas A. Paul
                                 Douglas A. Paul
                                 Vice President, Secretary, and General Counsel

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective
Amendment No. 65/Amendment No. 65 has been signed below by the following persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          Date
<S>                                  <C>                                  <C>
*                                    Chairman of the Board of Directors,  August 30, 1996
- ---------------------------------    President,
James M. Benham                      and Chief Executive Officer

*                                    Director                             August 30, 1996
- ---------------------------------
Albert A. Eisenstat

*                                    Director                             August 30, 1996
- ---------------------------------
Ronald J. Gilson

*                                    Director                             August 30, 1996
- ---------------------------------
Myron S. Scholes

*                                    Director                             August 30, 1996
- ---------------------------------
Kenneth E. Scott

*                                    Director                             August 30, 1996
- ---------------------------------
Ezra Solomon

*                                    Director                             August 30, 1996
- ---------------------------------
Isaac Stein

*                                    Director                             August 30, 1996
- ---------------------------------
James E. Stowers III

*                                    Director                             August 30, 1996
- ---------------------------------
Jeanne D. Wohlers

*                                    Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer   August 30, 1996
- ---------------------------------
Maryanne Roepke
</TABLE>

/s/ Douglas A. Paul
*by Douglas A. Paul, Attorney in Fact (pursuant to a Power of Attorney dated 
March 4, 1996).


EXHIBIT       DESCRIPTION
EX-99.B1      Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation dated June 15, 1995
              are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 of
              Post-Effective Amendment No. 64 filed on May 29, 1996 (Accession #
              0000017271-96-000005).

EX-99.B2      Amended and Restated Bylaws dated May 31, 1995 are incorporated 
              herein by reference to Exhibit 2 of Post-Effective Amendment No.
              64 filed on May 29, 1996 (Accession # 0000017271-96-000005).

EX-99.B3      Not applicable.

EX-99.B4      Specimen copy of Capital Preservation Fund, Inc. share certificate
              is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4 to Post-Effective
              Amendment No. 34.

EX-99.B5      Investment Advisory Agreement between Capital Preservation Fund,
              Inc. and Benham Management Corporation, dated June 1, 1995, is
              included herein.

EX-99.B6      Distribution Agreement between Capital Preservation Fund, Inc. and
              Twentieth Century Securities, Inc. dated as of September 3, 1996,
              is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 6 of Post-Effective
              Amendment No. 29 to the Registration Statement of the Benham
              Government Income Trust filed on August 30, 1996 (Accession #
              ____________).

EX-99.B8      Custodian Agreement between Capital Preservation Fund, Inc. and 
              State Street Bank & Trust Company, dated August 10, 1993,
              Amendment No. 1 dated December 1, 1994 to the Custodian Agreement
              and Amendment No. 2 dated March 4, 1996 to the Custodian Agreement
              are incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8 of Post-Effective
              Amendment No. 7 to the Registration Statement of Benham
              International Funds filed on April 22, 1996 (Accession #
              880268-96-000010).

EX-99.B9      Administrative Services and Transfer Agency Agreement between 
              Capital Preservation Fund, Inc. and Twentieth Century Services,
              Inc. dated as of September 3, 1996,. is incorporated herein by
              reference to Exhibit 9 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 29 to the
              Registration Statement of the Benham Government Income Trust filed
              on August 30, 1996 (Accession # ------------).

EX-99.B10     Opinion and consent of counsel as to the legality of the
              securities being registered, dated May 16, 1996 is
              incorporated herein by reference to Rule 24f-2 Notice filed on
              May 16, 1996 (Accession # 0000017271-96-000003).

EX-99.B11     Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick, independent auditors, is included
              herein.

EX-99.B14     a) Benham Individual Retirement Account Plan, including all
              instructions and other relevant documents, dated February 1992, is
              incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 14(a) to
              Post-Effective Amendment No. 59 filed on September 25, 1992.

              b) Benham Pension/Profit Sharing Plan, including all instructions
              and other relevant documents, dated February 1992, is incorporated
              herein by reference to Exhibit 14(b) to Post-Effective Amendment
              No. 59 filed on September 25, 1992.

EX-99.B16     Schedule for computation of each performance quotation provided in
              response to Item 22 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
              16 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 64 filed on May 29, 1996
              (Accession # 0000017271-96-000005).

EX-99.B17     Power of Attorney dated March 4, 1996 is incorporated herein by
              reference to Exhibit 17 of Post-Effective Amendment No. 64 filed
              on May 29, 1996 (Accession # 0000017271-96-000005).

EX-27.4.1     Financial Data Schedule


                         Consent of Independent Auditors




The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Capital Preservation Fund, Inc.:

We consent to the inclusion in Capital Preservation Fund, Inc.'s Post-Effective
Amendment No. 65 to the Registration Statement No. 2-42556 on Form N-1A under
the Securities Act of 1933 and Amendment No. 65 to the Registration Statement
No. 811-2247 filed on Form N-1A under the Investment Company Act of 1940 of our
reports dated May 3, 1996 on the financial statements and financial highlights
of the Benham Capital Preservation Fund (the assumed business name of Capital
Preservation Fund, Inc.) for the periods indicated therein, which reports have
been incorporated by reference into the Statement of Additional Information of
Capital Preservation Fund, Inc.. We also consent to the reference to our firm
under the heading "Financial Highlights" in the Prospectus and under the heading
"About the Fund" in the Statement of Additional Information which are
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus.


/s/KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Kansas City, Missouri
August 30, 1996



<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 1
   <NAME> CAPITAL PRESERVATION FUND, INC.
       
<S>                   <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                            MAR-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                 MAR-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                              2884311605
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                             2884311605
<RECEIVABLES>                                       535141564
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                        9708724
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                     3429161893
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                            340832044
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                     0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                            10771352
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                 351603396
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                             0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                           3077558497
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                              3077558497
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                              2883350135
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                   0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                      0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                     0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                    0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                    0
<NET-ASSETS>                                       3077558497
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                           0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                   166672795
<OTHER-INCOME>                                              0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                       14825117
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                             151847678
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                    0
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                   0
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                               194208362
<EQUALIZATION>                                              0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                           151847678
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                    0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                       0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                            3051788845
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                        3002386181
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                 144805698
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                              194208362
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                     0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                   0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                     0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                  0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                 8039420
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                          0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                      15126656
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                               2988262850
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                       1
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                         0.052
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                     0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                    0.052
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                   0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                        0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                         1
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                          0.51
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                      0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                        0
        

</TABLE>


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