Executive Order  No. 1: (1st Series) Creating a state and local civil defense organization

I, Leverett Saltonstall, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, having issued on the 29th day of December, 1941, with the advise and consent of the Council, a proclamation setting forth a state of emergency, pursuant to the provisions of Acts of 1941, c. 719, Part II, sec. 6(a), and now acting under the provisions of said Acts of 1941, c. 719, by virtue of the authority conferred upon me by the said Act and of all other authority vested in me, do hereby issue this order for the purpose of protecting the lives and property of the inhabitants of the Commonwealth.

1. The creation of the Massachusetts Committee on Public Safety by me on August 23, 1940, and the appointment of its members heretofore made by me, are hereby confirmed and said Committee is directed and authorized to serve under the Governor as a part of the Executive Department of the Commonwealth.

2. The Massachusetts Committee on Public Safety is hereby authorized to organize, supervise, direct and coordinate local committees on public safety in the cities and towns of the Commonwealth for the protection of the lives and property of the citizens of the respective cities and towns in which such committees have heretofore been, or may hereafter be, organized.

3. The Massachusetts Committee on Public Safety and the military and police forces and all other duly constituted officers of the Commonwealth are hereby directed to carry out throughout the Commonwealth, any and all orders and regulations now or hereafter promulgated by me for air raid precautions or for the preservation of life and property: and the local committees on public safety, and the duly constituted municipal authorities in the cities and towns are hereby directed to carry out such orders and regulations in their respective cities and towns.

4. The Massachusetts Committee on Public Safety of the Commonwealth, in addition to the execution of orders and regulations described in paragraph 3 above, is, subject to my direction, hereby authorized to take all further action for the protection of life and property in the Commonwealth as may be permitted by law.

GIVEN at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this 31st day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred forty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the one hundred and sixty-sixth.

By His Excellency the Governor,
LEVERETT SALTONSTALL.

FREDERIC W. COOK,
Secretary of the Commonwealth