Executive Order  No. 47: (1st Series) Establishing day care program for children of female employees of war industries

WHEREAS, there is an unprecedented need for the employment of women in industries, civilian defense work, and other activities vital to the prosecution of the war between the United States and certain foreign countries; and

WHEREAS, many mothers and other women having the care and custody of children have become or hereafter may become employed in such industries, work, and activities, which employment makes or will make it extremely difficult for them to adequately provide for the health, safety, care, and welfare of such children during the period when they are so employed; and

WHEREAS, provision for the day care of such children will materially aid the war effort by promoting the availability and efficiency of women for such employment; and

WHEREAS, the Government of the United States, acting through the Federal Security Agency, has requested that the Commonwealth co-operate with said office and with appropriate public and private agencies in a program to establish, maintain and operate centers wherein such children may be received and adequately provided for during the period of employment of those women charged with their care and custody, and has made funds available for such purpose:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, LEVERETT SALTONSTALL, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, acting under the authority of Acts of 1941, chapter 719, section 7, Acts of 1942, chapter 13, section 2 (10), (13), and section 3, and of all other authority vested in me, do hereby issue this order as a measure necessary and expedient for meeting the supreme emergency of the existing state of war between the United States and certain foreign countries.

1. The Commissioners of Public Welfare, Public Health, Education, and Labor and Industries, and the Massachusetts Committee on Public Safety are hereby authorized and empowered to co-operate with each other and with appropriate federal authorities and with appropriate public and private agencies within the Commonwealth in the promotion and co-ordination of a program for the day care of children who are under the care and custody of said women.

2. The said Commissioners of Public Welfare, Public Health, Education, and Labor and Industries are hereby jointly and severally authorized and empowered to apply on behalf of the Commonwealth for any funds which now or hereafter may be made available to the Commonwealth by the Government of the United States or any agency thereof for the purpose of administering and assisting in the establishment and development of such part of the program referred to in paragraph one of this order as may be within the jurisdiction of their respective departments as set forth in said program. Said Commissioners are hereby further jointly and severally authorized and empowered to apply on behalf of the Commonwealth for any funds which now are or hereafter may be made available to the Commonwealth by the Government of the United States to assist any appropriate public or private agency within the Commonwealth in providing day care for children under such part of the program referred to in paragraph one of this order as may be within the jurisdiction of their respective departments. The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds allotted to the Commonwealth under said program. The funds so allotted by the Government of the United States or any agency thereof shall be expended without specific appropriation under the order of the Commissioner having jurisdiction over that part of the program for which the funds have been allotted as set forth in said programs.

GIVEN at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this 5th day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and forty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the one hundred and sixty-seventh.

By His Excellency the Governor,
Leverett Saltonstall