The health of the people is of supreme importance.  All measures looking to their protection against the spread of contagious diseases and to the increase of our sanitary knowledge for such purposes deserve attention of Congress.

The report of the Secretary of the Treasury presents in detail a highly satisfactory exhibit of the state of the finances and the condition of the various branches of the public service administered by that Department.

The ordinary revenues from all sources for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1881, were: 

From customs                                            $198,159,676.02
From internal revenue                                    135,264,385.51
From sales of public lands                                 2,201,863.17
From tax on circulation and deposits of national banks     8,116,115.72
From repayment of interest by Pacific Railway companies      810,833.80
From sinking fund for Pacific Railway companies              805,180.54
From customs fees, fines, penalties, etc.                  1,225,514.86
From fees—­consular, letters patent, and lands             2,244,983.98
From proceeds of sales of Government property                262,174.00
From profits on coinage                                    3,468,485.61
From revenues of the District of Columbia                  2,016,199.23
From miscellaneous sources                                 6,206,880.13
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Total ordinary receipts                                  360,782,292.57

The ordinary expenditures for the same period were: 

For civil expenses $17,941,177.19
For foreign intercourse 1,093,954.92
For Indians 6,514,161.09
For pensions 50,059,279.62
For the military establishment, including river
and harbor improvements and arsenals 40,466,460.55
For the naval establishment, including vessels,
machinery, and improvements at navy-yards 15,686,671.66
For miscellaneous expenditures, including public
buildings, light-houses, and collecting the revenue 41,837,280.57
For expenditures on account of the District of Columbia 3,543,912.03
For interest on the public debt 82,508,741.18
For premium on bonds purchased 1,061,248.78
______________
Total ordinary expenditures 260,712,887.59

Leaving a surplus revenue of $100,069,404.98, which was applied as follows: 

To the redemption of—­