1945: (Lescot Reduces the National Marriage Tax — In 1945 President Élie Lescot Announcing the Reduction of the National Marriage Tax, Popularly Discussed as…

1945: (Lescot Reduces the National Marriage Tax — In 1945 President Élie Lescot Announcing the Reduction of the National Marriage Tax, Popularly Discussed as the Marriage Tax Law the Law Reducing the Fees for Marriage from a Total Minimum of 20 Gourdes in the Countryside to 0.50 Gourdes Nationwide — Lescot Explaining That the Law Would Promote the High and Noble Institution of Marriage While at the Same Time Ensuring Civil Status to the Children Born in the Country, Further Explaining That Without a Marriage Tax More Peasants Would Have the Means to Get Married): In 1945, President Élie Lescot announced the reduction of the national marriage tax. Popularly discussed as the Marriage Tax Law, the legislation reduced the fees for marriage from a total minimum of 20 gourdes in the countryside to 0.50 gourdes nationwide. In a message to the nation, Lescot explained that the law would promote the institution of marriage while also ensuring civil status to children born in the country. The president further explained that without a marriage tax, more peasants would have the means to get married — the tax reduction was a Trojan horse: what appeared as generosity toward the poor was in fact the state reaching deeper into the intimate arrangements that had until then evaded its jurisdiction.