Executive Order  No. 51: (1st Series) Authorizing the State Superintendent of Buildings to enter into a contract for the furnishing of electric power and heat to the State House

WHEREAS, the prosecution of the existing war between the United States and certain foreign countries has resulted in a lack of facilities for the transportation of fuel oil into the New England States in sufficient quantity to meet necessary requirements; and

WHEREAS, there is impending a shortage of fuel oil of major proportions which may make it impossible to furnish power and heat adequately to industry, public and private buildings, and to the civilian population; and

WHEREAS, elimination of the use of fuel oil as a source of power and heat in the State House of the Commonwealth may tend to make available a larger supply of fuel oil for the homes of the inhabitants of the Commonwealth and for industry engaged in the production of materials essential to the war effort; and

WHEREAS, the Government of the United States has urged that all possible measures be taken immediately to conserve fuel oil; and

WHEREAS, it is possible to obtain power and heat for the State House from the Boston Edison Company by a method involving the use of a minimum of critical materials and fuel other than oil:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, LEVERETT SALTONSTALL, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, acting under the provisions of Acts of 1941, chapter 719, Acts of 1942, chapter 13, section 2 (2), (12), and section 3, and 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 State Superintendent of Buildings is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a contract on behalf of the Commonwealth with the Boston Edison Company upon such terms, for such period of time, and at such rates as may be approved by the Commission on Administration and Finance of the Commonwealth for the furnishing of electric current to the State House in Boston, the connecting of the heating system of said State House with appropriate steam lines of the said Boston Edison Company, and the delivery of steam from said steam lines to said State House for the purpose of supplying the said State House with power and heat.

2. Nothing contained in General Laws (Ter. Ed.) chapter 29, as amended by Acts of 1941, chapter 547, or in any other law, rule or regulation shall be deemed to prohibit the action authorized by this order.

3. Any action heretofore taken consistent with the provisions of this order is hereby ratified and approved to the same extent as if such action had been taken pursuant to the provisions of this order.

GIVEN at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this 6th 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