Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 May 1901 — Near a Hundred Years in Office [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Near a Hundred Years in Office

Hubbard B. McDonald, who bears the official title of journal clerk to

the United States Senate, but who is really the parlia m e ntarian of that body, is the third of his. i m m e - diate family to occupy that position. H i s grandfather, John G. Mc-

Donald, was appointed uuief clerk of the senate, in 1809, and continued in that position until his death, in 1836. His son, the father of the present incumbent, was appointed to succeed him, and he remained as the official helmsman of the senate until his death, nearly twentyfive years ago. Even before the death of bis father Hubbard McDonald had become connected with the senate in a clerical capacity, and he has now served for many years as Its parliamentary expert. It is his business to sit close to the presiding officer of the senate and keep him from falling into parliamentary pitfalls. He reports that of all the vice-presidents it has been his fortune to coach Mr. Roosevelt 18 by far the hardest to keep in line. “Teddy” has such decided Ideas and opinions of his own that he yields with poor grace to the mandates of tradition and precedent.