The San Francisco call., 1898-07-22
FIELD RETICENT.
He Refuses to Discuss the The Ory of His Unofficial
 Conduct.

Throw a stone at a pack of CUTS and the cur that is hit will howl"
 This Is the imprudent explanation that J. L. Fields advanced in a fit of stammer- ing excitement yesterday in answer to the article published in The Call of yesterday, in which was fully outlined his methods of conducting his office as secretary to the Commissioners on Building and Loan Associations.
 Who is the particular cur that MT Field would fain point out? If the decision were allowed for determination by ocular Judgment guided by ordinary intelligence, he would undoubtedly be censured by the revolt of his own conscience after the storm of anger and resentment had fully cleared away and he were allowed to think and revolve the quotation into its correct meaning.
 The article that MT. Field objected to was a plain and unbiased collaboration of facts published for the veal of the general community to the exclusion of any and all partisan motives for an in dividual attack.
 Although the quotation, cribbed from John Golf one of the members of the eel ebrated Lexow Committee, is a wise one, it nevertheless should not be allowed con- sideration in the ordinary mind. as its meaning is equivocal and can cut both ways with equal facility, thereby render ing it exceedingly dangerous for offhand utterance. No matter how the eQuivo- cation, as 1t has been uttered and now exists, might be twisted, it could not in the ordinary conception of English be construed into any other meaning than that which 1t infers-that the coiner of 1t is the cur hit. The object of the quotation was to have Its meaning strapped upon Fields enemies, who have been impru- dent enough to stir his ire by affixing their signatures to published statements; Q rpfnrnn6 a n a rn- ing velocity, similar to the boomerang, back to the wielder of the weapon.
 Other than the quotation. cited Fields given an opportunity to make a state ment in denial or at least explanation of the facts published. He would neither and when pressed to answer questions re- lating to its authenticity pleaded as an excuse that he didn't care to be involved in a controversy, of any kind. He re- fused bluntly and somewhat excitedly in answer to the question as to who was paying the expenses of his so-called of ficial visit to Sacramento, and reiterated his groundless reasons for not doing so. Why he should refuse can probably be explained by the truth of the published statements.
 One of the things that Fields will have to explain before he can be cleared of the charge of unofficial conduct Is the follow ing passage quoted from Wednesdays S
 "On December IS. 1896, he made a re- port to the shareholders of the Union Building and Loan Association of Sacra- mento, wherein he took occasion to say in the capacity of Public Accountant, that the books and accounts of the asso- citation were in correct and satisfactory condition, when as a matter of fact it would be most difficult to find the affairs of any association in more unsatisfac- tory condition"
 Fields effort to explain his whitewash- ing report about the Union Building and Loan Association of Sacramento is ex- ceedingly weak.
 He says: T did not give certificate as secretary of this board Building and Loan Commissioners). What I did sign was as public accountant, for I never have and never will give a certificate as an official of this board.'
 If MT. Fields did not officially "examine" into the affairs of the Union Building and Loan Association of Sacramento, then the said association must have paid him for the work and for his travelling ex- penses.
 Did the Union Building and Loan Asso- citation of the State of California pay these expenses? If Mir. Fields acted as Pub lie Accountant the question arises, How much of his time does the State pay for as Secretary? When he visits building and loan associations for the purpose of exporting their books does he inform them in advance whether or not he acts in an official capacity or In that of Pub lie Accountant?
 When the idea of having State super
 
 in this State was advocated in convention in San Francisco the strong point was made that reports of expert examinations would be stamped by official authority.
 MT. Fields plea would upset all this and his report simply as an accountant would have no more weight than that of the experts who made examinations prior to the passage of the act creating a. Board of Building and Loan Commis- sioners.
 Who paid MT. Fields railroad fare to and from Sacramento at the time he ex- amined the. books of the Union Building and Loan Association? Did he get leave of absence from the Commissioners if he left their office to go on private business as an accountant? At his office in the Clunie building there is painted on the door. 'J. L. Fields, Secretary State Build ing and Loan Commissioners" but no Public Accountant"
 If according to himself, Mir. Field did not make his report as secretary of the State Building and Loan Commissioners it is a fortunate thing for his own reputa- tion and that of the commission that he did not do so, because 1t is so meager and unsatisfactory. He appears to be "deviI-