reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 160 § 250 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 250 - Change in Amount of Capital Stock

Section 250. The corporation may from time to time, at a meeting of directors called therefor, reduce the amount of the capital stock, or increase it for the purpose of constructing and equipping its railroad and extensions or branches thereof. If such increase or reduction is made, a certificate of the fact, signed by the president of the corporation, shall, within thirty days thereafter, be filed in the office of the state secretary. Such corporation may, by vote at a meeting of its directors, purchase, acquire or lease the property, stocks, bonds or securities of any railroad corporation whose line is located in the foreign country named in the original agreement of association of such corporation or any amendment thereof made as hereinafter provided, or of any steamship company associated in transportation or business with such corporation, upon such terms and for such consideration as shall be determined by such vote, and in like manner may appoint an executive committee from the members of its board, and delegate to such committee such power and authority as by such vote shall be provided, and in like manner may divide the directors into classes as nearly equal as possible for the prescribed number of classes, and prescribe the tenure of office of the several classes, but no class shall be elected for a shorter period than one year or for a longer period than five years, and the term of office of at least one class shall expire at the next annual meeting and thereafter at the end of each year, and at each annual meeting after such division directors shall be elected only to fill the place of those whose terms of office shall then expire as so provided and shall hold office for the period so prescribed, and all directors shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualified; and such corporation may, by vote at an annual or a special meeting of its stockholders, called therefor, amend its agreement of association to provide for constructing and operating a railroad in any other foreign countries in accordance with the laws of such countries, and shall file such amendment in the office of the state secretary and pay him fifty dollars, and thereupon such corporation shall have the same powers and privileges, and be subject to the same duties, liabilities and restrictions, in all respects, as if its agreement of association had originally contained such amendment.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 251 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 251 - Application

Section 251. Such corporation shall be subject to sections twenty-nine to forty, inclusive, and sixty-five, except as otherwise provided in the four preceding sections.
MA Gen L ch 160 § 252 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 160 - Railroads|Section 252 - Enforcement

Section 252. The supreme judicial court shall have jurisdiction in equity on petition of the attorney general, of the railroad corporation, of any public body or of any other party interested to compel the observance of and to restrain the violation of all laws which govern railroad corporations and of all orders, rules and regulations made in accordance with the provisions of this chapter by any public body or by the department and to review, annul, modify or amend the rulings of any state department relative to such corporations as law and justice may require. The superior court shall have such jurisdiction concurrent with the supreme judicial court to enforce the provisions of sections forty-eight, one hundred and ninety-three and two hundred and six.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 1 - Definitions

Section 1. In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, the following words shall have the following meanings:  ''Board of aldermen'', or ''selectmen'', includes the board or other authority exercising the powers of a board of aldermen or of selectmen, but nothing in this chapter shall affect the veto power of a mayor of a city.  ''Company'', a street railway company.  ''Department'', department of public utilities.  ''Extension'', any railway constructed by a street railway company in a city or town in addition to that authorized by its original location therein.  ''Location'', as applied to a street railway, the grant to a street railway company of the right to construct, maintain and operate a street railway in a public way or place.  ''Original'', as applied to a street railway location in a city or town, the first location granted to the company in such city or town.  ''Public way'', any way laid out by public authority.  ''Street railway'' or ''railway'', a railway, including poles, wires or other appliances and equipment connected therewith, of the class operated by motive power other than steam, and usually constructed upon public ways and places.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 2 - Application

Section 2. Street railway companies shall be subject to this chapter and chapter one hundred and fifty-nine. Companies which have been specially chartered shall continue to exercise and enjoy the powers and privileges granted and be subject to all the liabilities imposed by their respective charters, except as modified and controlled by amendments thereof, or by this chapter or chapter one hundred and fifty-nine. All street railway companies whether organized under general or special laws shall be subject to any other general laws applicable thereto.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 3 - Persons Forming Company

Section 3. Fifteen or more persons may associate themselves by a written agreement of association with the intention of forming a company.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 4 - Contents of Agreement of Association; Duties of Associates

Section 4. The agreement of association shall state:  (a) That the subscribers thereto associate themselves with the intention of forming a street railway company.  (b) The corporate name assumed, which shall be one not in use by any other such company in the commonwealth, or, in the judgment of the department, so similar thereto as to be likely to be mistaken for it, and which shall contain the words, ''street railway company,'' at the end thereof.  (c) The termini of the railway.  (d) The length of the railway, as nearly as may be.  (e) The name of each county, city and town where the railway is to be located.  (f) The gauge of the railway, which shall be four feet eight and one half inches.  (g) The total amount of the capital stock of the company, which shall be not less than ten thousand dollars for each mile, unless the railway is to be wholly outside of a city, in which case said stock shall be not less than five thousand dollars for each mile.  (h) The par value of the shares, which may be one hundred dollars, fifty dollars or twenty-five dollars as the department shall authorize.  (i) The names and residences of at least five persons, who shall be subscribers to the agreement of association, to act as directors until others are qualified in their stead.  Each associate shall subscribe to the agreement of association his name, residence, post office address, and the number of shares of stock which he agrees to take; but no subscriber shall be bound to pay more than ten per cent of the amount of his subscription unless a company is incorporated.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 5 - Clerk and Treasurer of Association; Term; Vacancies

Section 5. The directors shall appoint a clerk and a treasurer who shall hold their respective offices until a clerk and a treasurer of the company are qualified in their stead. The directors shall fill any vacancy in their board, or in the office of clerk or treasurer, before the organization of the company.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 6 - Publication of Agreement of Association

Section 6. The directors, before applying for locations for a railway, shall cause a copy of the agreement of association to be published in a newspaper, if any, published in each of the cities and towns where the railway is to be located, and, if, in any county, a newspaper is published in none of said cities and towns therein, in such newspaper published in said county as shall be designated by the department, at least once in each of three successive weeks; and the sworn certificate of the clerk shall be conclusive evidence of such publication.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 8 - Certification of Facts Relating to Formation; Presentation to Department

Section 8. When the amount of capital stock named in the agreement of association has been subscribed in good faith by responsible persons, and ten per cent of the par value of each share has been paid in cash to the treasurer, the directors, clerk and treasurer shall annex to the agreement of association their certificate setting forth these facts, and that it is intended in good faith to locate, construct, maintain and operate the railway as described in said agreement, shall annex to said agreement the certificate of publication specified in section six and the several certificates of location, and shall present the same for inspection to the department.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 9 - Certificate of Incorporation

Section 9. When it is shown to the satisfaction of the department that the requirements of this chapter preliminary to the incorporation of a company have been complied with, and that locations have been obtained for a railway between the termini and substantially over the route set forth in the agreement of association, the clerk of the department, upon its order, shall annex to the agreement of association a certificate stating such fact. The directors shall thereupon file the agreement of association, with all the certificates annexed thereto, including the plan, if any, required by the department, in the office of the state secretary, who, upon receipt of a fee to be determined annually by the commissioner of administration under the provision of section three B of chapter seven, said state secretary, shall receive and preserve the same in form convenient for reference and open to public inspection; and shall thereupon issue a certificate of incorporation substantially in the following form:  COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.  Be it known that whereas (names of the subscribers to the agreement of association) have associated themselves with the intention of forming a corporation under the name of the (name of company), for the purpose of locating, constructing, maintaining and operating a street railway (description of the railway as in the agreement of association), and have complied with the statutes of this commonwealth in such cases made and provided: Now, therefore, I, , secretary of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that the persons aforesaid, their associates and successors, are legally established as a corporation under the name of the (name of the company), with all the powers and privileges, and subject to all the duties, liabilities and restrictions, set forth in all general laws which now are or hereafter may be in force relating to street railway companies.  In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my official signature, and affixed the great seal of said commonwealth, this day of , in the year .  The state secretary shall sign the certificate of incorporation, and cause the great seal of the commonwealth to be thereto affixed, and such certificate shall have the force and effect of a special charter. He shall also cause a record of the certificate of incorporation to be made, and such certificate, or such record, or a certified copy thereof, shall be conclusive evidence of the existence of such corporation.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 10 - First Meeting of Incorporators; Notice; Waiver of Notice

Section 10. Upon the issue of such certificate of incorporation, the first meeting of the incorporators shall be called by a notice, signed by a majority of the directors, stating the time, place and purposes of the meeting. A copy of such notice shall, seven days at least before the day appointed for the meeting, be given to each incorporator or left at his residence or usual place of business, or deposited in the post office, postage prepaid, and addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business, and another copy thereof, and an affidavit of the clerk that the notice has been duly served, shall be recorded with the records of the company. If all the incorporators shall in writing waive such notice and fix the time and place of the meeting, no notice shall be required.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 11 - Adoption of By-Laws; Election of Directors

Section 11. At such first meeting, or at any adjournment thereof, the incorporators shall organize by the adoption of by-laws, and by the election, by ballot, of not less than five directors. The clerk appointed by the directors under section five shall make and attest a record of the proceedings until the clerk of the company has been chosen and sworn, including a record of such choice and qualification.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 12 - Management of Business

Section 12. The business of every company shall be managed and conducted by a president, a board of not less than five directors, a clerk, a treasurer and such other officers and such agents as the company by its by-laws shall authorize.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 13 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 13 - Election of Officers; Term; Qualifications; Treasurer's Bond; Appointment of Other Officers

Section 13. The directors shall be elected annually by the stockholders by ballot, and the president shall be elected annually by and from the board of directors, and the treasurer and the clerk annually by said board. Every director, unless the by-laws otherwise provide, shall be a stockholder. The treasurer may be required to give a bond for the faithful performance of his duty in such sum and with such sureties as the by-laws may prescribe. The clerk, who shall be a resident of the commonwealth, shall be sworn, and shall record all votes of the company in a book kept therefor. The officers of a company shall hold officer for one year and until their successors are qualified. All other agents and officers shall be chosen or appointed, and all vacancies filled, in the manner prescribed by the by-laws, or, in default of such by-law, by the board of directors. Any requirement in the general laws of action to be taken or instruments to be signed by the president, directors, or a majority of the directors, of a company, relative to grants, extensions, alterations, and revocations of location, abolition of grade crossings and rights in state highways, shall be sufficiently and legally complied with if such action is taken by a vote, or if such instrument is executed in accordance with, and by the persons designated in, a vote of the directors of such company, at a meeting duly and properly held, at which a quorum of the board is present.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 14 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 14 - Stockholders' Meetings

Section 14. There shall be an annual meeting of the stockholders, and the time and place of holding it, and the manner of conducting it, shall be fixed by the by-laws. All meetings of stockholders shall be held in the commonwealth, and shall be called, and notice thereof given, in the manner provided in the by-laws of the company; or, if the by-laws make no provision therefor, shall be called by the president, and a written notice, stating the place, day and hour thereof, shall be given by the clerk, at least seven days before such meeting, to each stockholder by leaving such notice with him or at his residence or usual place of business, or by mailing it, postage prepaid, and addressed to each stockholder at his address as it appears upon the books of the company. Unless the by-laws otherwise provide, a majority in interest of all stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote shall constitute a quorum. Notices of all meetings of stockholders shall state the purposes for which the meetings are called. No notice of the time, place or purpose of any regular or special meeting of the stockholders shall be required if every stockholder, or his attorney thereunto authorized, by a writing filed with the records of the meeting, waives such notice.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 15 - Special Meetings

Section 15. A special meeting of the stockholders shall be called, and a written notice thereof, stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting, given, by the clerk upon written application of three or more stockholders entitled to vote, holding at least one tenth part in interest of the capital stock.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 16 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 16 - Voting by Corporation of Own Shares

Section 16. A company shall not directly or indirectly vote upon any share of its own stock.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 17 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 17 - Voting by Shareholders; Proxies

Section 17. Stockholders entitled to vote shall have one vote for each share of stock owned by them. Stockholders may vote either in person or by proxy. No proxy dated more than six months before the meeting named therein shall be accepted, and no such proxy shall be valid after the final adjournment of such meeting.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 18 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 18 - Directors' Meetings

Section 18. Meetings of the board of directors may be held within or without the commonwealth. Any meeting of the board of directors shall be a legal meeting without notice, if each director who is absent, by a writing filed with the records of the meeting, waives such notice.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 19 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 19 - Stock Certificates

Section 19. Each stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate which shall be signed by the president and by the treasurer of the company, or by such other officers as may be authorized by the by-laws, shall be sealed with its seal, and shall certify the number of shares owned by him in such company.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 20 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 20 - Issuance of Certificate

Section 20. Certificates of stock shall not be issued by a company until the par value thereof shall have been paid in cash.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 20a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 20a - Change of Par Value of Capital Stock

Section 20A. Every corporation subject to this chapter may, at a meeting duly called for the purpose, by the vote of a majority of all of its stock or, if two or more classes of stock have been issued, of a majority of each class outstanding and entitled to vote, authorize a change of the par value of the shares of its capital stock in accordance with paragraph (h) of section four or paragraph (i) of section one hundred and thirty-six, or authorize a change of the par value or values of the shares of any class or classes of its capital stock to a par value or values of ten dollars or of five dollars; but such change shall not be effective unless the department shall approve the same on an application of the corporation filed within thirty days after the passage of such vote. The aggregate par value of the outstanding shares shall not be increased by a change in the par value thereof.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 21 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 21 - Assessments; Default of Shareholder

Section 21. The directors may assess upon all the shares subscribed, but not paid in, such amounts, not in excess of their par value, as they think proper, and may direct the same to be paid to the treasurer, who shall give written notice thereof to the subscribers. If a subscriber fails to pay his assessment for thirty days after such notice, the directors may transfer the rights under such subscription to any person who subscribes for the same and pays the assessments due, or may order the treasurer, after giving notice of the sale, to sell such shares by public auction to the highest bidder, and, upon the payment by him to the company of the unpaid assessments, of interest to the date of sale and of the charges of the sale, the shares shall be transferred to him. If, within thirty days after the sale, the purchaser does not make said payment to the company, the sale shall be cancelled, and the subscriber shall be liable to the company for the unpaid assessments, the interest thereon, and the charges of sale. If the amount so paid by the purchaser to the company is more than the amount for which the shares were sold, the subscriber shall be liable to the purchaser for the deficiency; if it is less, the purchaser shall be liable to the subscriber for the surplus.
MA Gen L ch 161 § 22 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 161 - Street Railways|Section 22 - Collection of Assessments

Section 22. If a subscriber fails to pay his assessment for thirty days, as provided in the preceding section, the directors may elect to proceed by an action at law against said delinquent subscriber to recover all amounts due and payable by him with interest. If a judgment rendered in an action against a subscriber remains unsatisfied for thirty days, all amounts previously paid by him shall be forfeited to the company, and the directors may offer such shares for sale as above provided.