reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 159 § 44 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 44 - Examinations or Audits by Department; Divulging Information; Penalty

Section 44. Any employee or agent of the department who divulges any fact or information coming to his knowledge during the course of any examination or audit under this chapter, except in so far as he may be directed by the department, or by a court or judge, or be authorized by law, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 50 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 50 - Offer of New Capital Stock to Stockholders; Notice; Price; Time of Acceptance

Section 50. Any corporation which owns or operates a railroad, railway, electric railroad or elevated railway shall, upon any increase of its capital stock, except as provided in the following section, offer the new shares proportionately to its stockholders at such price, not less than the par value thereof, as may be determined by its stockholders. The directors upon the approval of such increase, as provided in section forty-eight of chapter one hundred and sixty and section twenty-eight of chapter one hundred and sixty-one, shall give written notice of the increase to each stockholder of record upon the books of the company at a date designated by vote of the directors passed after the approval by the department of such issue, stating the amount of the increase, the number of shares to which, according to the proportionate number of his shares at said date designated by the vote of the directors, he is entitled, the price at which he is entitled to take them, and fixing a time not less than fifteen days after said date designated by vote of the directors within which he may subscribe for such additional stock. Each stockholder may, within the time limited, subscribe for his portion of such stock, to be paid for in cash before the issue of a certificate therefor. No fractions of shares shall be issued, but stockholders may combine them by purchase or sale of rights to subscribe.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 51 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 51 - Auction of New Capital Stock

Section 51. If such increase does not exceed four per cent of the existing capital stock of the company, the directors, without first offering the same to the stockholders, may sell the shares by auction to the highest bidder, at not less than the par value thereof, to be actually paid in cash. They may also so sell at public auction any shares, which, after the expiration of the time limited in the notice required by the preceding section, remain unsubscribed for by the stockholders entitled to take them. Such shares shall be offered for sale in Boston, or in such other town as may be prescribed by the department; and notice of the time and place of such sale shall be published at least five times during the ten days immediately preceding the sale in each of at least three of such daily newspapers as may be prescribed by the department.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 52 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 52 - Basis of Determination by Department as to Amount of New Capital Stock

Section 52. The determination by the department, under the provisions of section forty-eight of chapter one hundred and sixty and section twenty-eight of chapter one hundred and sixty-one, as to the amount of stock which is reasonably necessary for the purpose for which such stock has been authorized shall, in the case of the corporations described in section fifty, be based upon the price at which such stock is to be issued as fixed by the stockholders; but the department shall refuse to approve any particular issue of stock if, in its opinion, the price fixed by the stockholders is so low as to be inconsistent with the public interest.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 53 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 53 - Computation of Amount of Capital Stock as Basis for Bond Issue

Section 53. In computing the amount of capital stock of a railroad corporation, electric railroad, railway or elevated railway company in order to determine the maximum amount of bonds, coupon notes or other evidences of indebtedness, payable at periods of more than twelve months after the date thereof, under sections forty-seven, forty-eight and sixty-four of chapter one hundred and sixty or section twenty-nine of chapter one hundred and sixty-one, and under any similar provisions of any special acts limiting the amount of such securities, which a railroad corporation, electric railroad, railway or elevated railway company may issue, there shall be added to the par value of the capital stock all cash premiums paid into the corporation on all shares issued by such corporation or company subsequent to July ninth, eighteen hundred and ninety-four, under chapter four hundred and sixty-two of the acts of eighteen hundred and ninety-four or any similar provisions of law.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 54 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 54 - Approval by Department; Public Hearing

Section 54. A lease or purchase and sale of the franchise and property of a railroad corporation, or railway company, and a consolidation of two or more railroad corporations, or railway companies, or a contract that either corporation or company shall perform all the transportation upon and over the road of the other, whether authorized by general laws or a special act, shall not be valid or binding until the terms thereof shall, after public notice and a hearing, have been approved by the department, and a certificate signed by it, setting forth the vote of approval, shall have been filed in the office of the state secretary. The department shall announce its decision within thirty days after the final hearing upon the application of any railroad corporation or railway company for permission to lease or sell to, consolidate with or purchase the franchise and other property of, any other railroad corporation or railway company, or to contract with any other railroad corporation or railway company that either corporation or company shall perform all the transportation upon and over the road of the other.  This section may be enforced as provided in section two hundred and fifty-two of chapter one hundred and sixty.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 57 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 57 - Consent of Department

Section 57. A railway shall not be constructed across the tracks of a railroad nor shall a railroad be constructed across the tracks of a railway at the same level therewith without the consent of the department.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 58 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 58 - Supervision of Crossing Following Consent of Department

Section 58. In any case in which the consent or approval of the department required by law for any crossing at grade is given, it may, after notice to the parties interested and a hearing, impose conditions, limitations, restrictions and regulations relative to such crossing, its construction and use, and may change and modify them.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 60 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 60 - Eminent Domain

Section 60. If it is decided that the location of the railroad or of the way shall be changed, land or other property may be taken therefor by eminent domain on behalf of the railroad corporation, the commonwealth, the county or the city or town, as the case may be, under chapter seventy-nine, and damages may be recovered therefor under said chapter.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 61 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 61 - Party to Carry Award Into Effect and to Pay Charges

Section 61. A commission of three disinterested persons, appointed as provided in the following section, shall determine which party shall carry such decision into effect and which party shall pay the charges and expenses of making such alteration and the future charges for keeping such bridge or crossing and the approaches thereto in repair, as well as the costs of the application to the county commissioners, or the department, and of the hearing before said commission; and it may apportion all such charges, expenses and costs between the railroad corporation, the railway company having tracks on said way, and the counties, cities or towns where said crossing is situated and other cities and towns which may be specially benefited; and if the crossing and its approaches are in direct continuation or a part of a state highway, the commonwealth may be included in such apportionment and its share shall be paid from the annual appropriation for maintenance and repair of state highways; provided, that the parties in interest may waive the appointment of the commission and determine the foregoing by written agreement to be filed in the proceeding. If a railway company is authorized to lay and use tracks upon any bridge in a highway built, repaired or altered as above provided for, or the approaches to which are altered or improved as above provided for, the said commission shall determine what part of the charges and expenses of making such changes or improvements, or of keeping such bridge or crossing and approaches in good condition, shall be paid by said railway company.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 62 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 62 - Appointment of Commission; Hearing; Notice

Section 62. Unless the parties in interest agree as provided in section sixty-one, upon application of the county commissioners, the department, the department of highways, the board of aldermen, the selectmen or the directors of the railroad corporation or of the railway company for the appointment of such commission, the superior court shall cause notice thereof to be given to the other parties interested fourteen days at least before the time fixed for the hearing; and thereupon, after hearing, shall appoint such commission, one member of which shall be a member of and designated by the department. The commission shall meet as soon as may be after its appointment, and, after notice to and a hearing of the parties, shall make a written award and return it to said court.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 63 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 63 - Revision of Award; Jury

Section 63. A party aggrieved by said award may, within fourteen days after the return thereof, apply to the court for a jury to revise and determine any matter of fact found therein; and thereupon the court, after notice to all parties interested, shall order a trial by jury in the same manner as civil cases are tried by jury. The decree of the court upon said award or upon the verdict of a jury, or upon agreement of the parties filed in said court, shall be final and binding, and said court may in equity enforce compliance therewith, and also issue and enforce such interlocutory decrees and orders as justice may require.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 64 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 64 - Recovery After Alteration of Proportion of Expense

Section 64. The party designated for that duty, having carried into effect the decision made under section fifty-nine, may recover in contract from any other party the proportion awarded to be paid by such other party, with interest; and if the party so designated unreasonably fails to carry the decision into effect, any other party affected by such failure may proceed to do it, and may recover in contract from each or all of the others the proportion awarded to be paid by them, and from the party so failing all charges, expenses and costs occasioned thereby.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 65 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 65 - Proceedings to Abolish Grade Crossings

Section 65. The department of highways shall proceed to make an investigation of crossings where a public or private way and a railroad cross each other at grade, in sections sixty-five to eighty-two, inclusive, referred to as grade crossings. Said department shall annually on or before October first file with the department of telecommunications and energy lists of grade crossings the abolition of which it suggests for early consideration, to which lists additional grade crossings may from time to time be added by said department of highways. Such lists shall state the names of the grade crossings, the names of the corporations operating the railroads crossed and the counties, cities and towns in which such crossings are located. The department of highways shall receive all petitions for the abolition of grade crossings from the aldermen of the city, the selectmen of the town, or the county commissioners of the county, where such a crossing exists, or the board of directors of the railroad corporation operating the railroad crossed, and after a hearing, due notice of which shall have been given to said railroad corporation, city or town and county, may in its discretion place said crossing on one of said lists. The department of telecommunications and energy, after due notice to the department of highways, the counties and municipalities in which such crossings are located and the railroad corporations operating the railroads crossed, shall proceed to hold public hearings upon such lists and such additional grade crossings as the department of highways shall have notified it to include. Upon the completion of such hearings the department of telecommunications and energy by order shall designate a program of grade crossings the abolition of which shall be considered; provided, that such program order may be amended or revised from time to time by the department of telecommunications and energy on request of the department of highways. In establishing such program the department of telecommunications and energy shall take into consideration the relative security and convenience of the public likely to result from the abolition of each particular grade crossing included therein as compared with the abolition of other grade crossings. Such program order shall state with respect to each grade crossing the name of the crossing, the name of the railroad corporation operating the railroad crossed, and the names of the counties, cities and towns in which the crossing is located. A copy of such program order and amendments and revisions thereof shall be filed in the office of the department of telecommunications and energy and of the department of highways.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 72 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 72 - Crossing Abolished Upon State Highway; Clear View

Section 72. Whenever a grade crossing is abolished upon a state highway, county way, or way which has been petitioned for as a state highway, the said highway or way shall be so constructed that there shall be a clear view in each direction for at least one hundred and fifty feet from the center of said highway or other way where the same passes over or under the railroad, except in any particular case, when compliance with said requirement is deemed by the department of highways to be unnecessary and unreasonable under all the circumstances.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 73 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 73 - Financing Cost of Abolishing Crossing by Street Railway Company

Section 73. The amount of any expenditure under section eighty by a street railway company toward the cost of abolishing a grade crossing shall be deemed and taken in all proceedings thereafter as a part of the value of its property for street railway purposes; and such company may issue stocks or bonds to such amount as the department of telecommunications and energy shall, subject to the laws relating to the issue of stocks and bonds by street railway companies, approve as reasonably necessary to provide for the payment of such expenditure.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 75 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 75 - Damages

Section 75. All damages sustained by any person in his property by the taking of land for or by the alterations of the grade of a public way, or by an abutter thereon by the discontinuance of such public way, to the same extent as damages are recoverable by abutters on ways discontinued by towns, or by the taking of an easement in land adjoining a public way, shall primarily be paid by the city or town, or, in case such public way is a state highway, by the commonwealth; and all damages caused by the taking of land for the railroad or by the change or discontinuance of a private way, or by the taking of an easement in land adjoining a private way or a railroad location shall primarily be paid by the railroad corporation. Any amount paid by way of damages by the commonwealth or the city or town or the railroad corporation primarily liable therefor shall be subject to investigation by the department of highways, unless such settlements are assented to in writing by all parties in the proceeding. If the parties interested cannot agree upon said damages, any party may have the damages determined under chapter seventy-nine. All expense resulting from the necessary relocating or changing of streams and watercourses forming the natural drainage channels of the territory where alterations of grades are authorized, and of sewers, drains and pipes therein owned and operated by a city or town, shall be primarily paid by said city or town, and shall be a part of the actual cost of the alterations specified in section seventy.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 76 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 76 - Settlement of Claims; Failure to File Petition

Section 76. In any case arising under the preceding section, where any person sustaining damage to his property in the manner therein specified fails to bring a petition within the time limited by chapter seventy-nine, the attorney general may join with the other parties interested in a settlement of the claim of such person; and the proportion of the amount agreed upon in settlement thereof which would be chargeable to the commonwealth under section seventy shall be paid by the commonwealth as if it were a part of the actual cost of the work required to be done under said section.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 77 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 77 - Expenses of Maintenance and Repair

Section 77. After the completion of the work, the expense of maintenance and repair shall be paid as follows: if the public way crosses the railroad by an overhead bridge, the superstructure and subflooring of the bridge and its abutments or other supports shall be maintained and kept in repair by the railroad corporation, but the approaches of the bridge and the pavement or wearing surface over the subflooring shall be maintained and kept in repair by the city or town where situated, or, in case such public way is a state highway, by the commonwealth; if the public way passes under the railroad, the bridge and its abutments or supports shall be maintained and kept in repair by the railroad corporation, and the public way and its approaches shall be maintained and kept in repair by the city or town where situated, or, in case such public way is a state highway, by the commonwealth; if several railroads cross a public way at or near a given point, the department of highways shall apportion and award in what manner and proportion each of said railroad corporations shall maintain and keep in repair the superstructure and subflooring of the bridge and its abutments or supports if the public way crosses the railroad by an overhead bridge, and the bridge and its abutments or supports if the public way passes under said railroads.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 78 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 78 - Audit of Expenses; Investigations; Orders of Payment of Apportioned Share

Section 78. All accounts of expense incurred by the railroad corporations or the city or town shall from time to time be submitted to the department of highways which shall audit the same, including any expense incurred by the commonwealth for or in connection with a state highway, and report thereon to the state comptroller. Said department shall upon request of any of the parties to the proceeding investigate the amounts presented for allowance by the commonwealth or any city or town or any railroad corporation as expended in the payment of damages for land taken or affected by reason of the proposed alteration, which have been paid by the party primarily liable therefor, as provided in section seventy-five, unless it appears that all the parties to the proceeding for the abolition of the grade crossing have assented in writing to the payment or settlement so made by the party primarily liable; and if said department determines that the amount so paid is in excess of what in its opinion should have been properly paid therefor, it shall allow only such portion of the amount so paid as it may deem to be just and reasonable. In case of any dispute as to the propriety or reasonableness of the whole or a part of any account of the expense, the department of telecommunications and energy, upon application of any party to the proceedings, shall determine the amount thereof, if any, to be allowed, and its determination shall be final. The department of highways shall, from time to time, issue its orders for payments on the part of each railroad corporation, not exceeding the amount apportioned to it by said department, and for the payment by the commonwealth of a sum not exceeding the amounts apportioned to it and to the county and city or town; and such county and city or town shall repay to the commonwealth the amount apportioned to it, with interest thereon at the rate of four per cent per annum in such instalments and at such times within ten years thereafter as said department, with the approval of the state comptroller, having regard to the financial condition of the county, city or town, shall determine.
MA Gen L ch 159 § 79 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 159 - Common Carriers|Section 79 - Enforcement; Review

Section 79. The superior court shall have jurisdiction in equity to enforce compliance with sections sixty-five to eighty-two, inclusive, and with the orders and agreements made thereunder. The supreme judicial court shall have jurisdiction in equity to review, modify, amend or annul any order of the department of highways or the department of telecommunications and energy made under authority of said sections, but only to the extent of the unlawfulness of such order.