Regents. He also introduced a successful bill to require that drawing be taught in public schools. U.S. House In 1878, Miller was elected to the United States House of Representatives. He was reelected in 1880, and served in the 46th and 47th United States Congresses (March 4, 1879 to July 26, 1881). During his House service, Miller was a member of the committees on Engrossed Bills, Insurance, Railways and Canals, and Ways and Means. His peers ranked him as among the most effective members of the House. U.S. Senate In 1881, Republican U.S. Senators Roscoe Conkling and Thomas C. Platt, leaders of the Republican Stalwart faction, resigned their seats during a dispute with President James A. Garfield, who was supported by the Half-Breed faction, over patronage positions in New York. They assumed they would quickly be reelected by the New York State Legislature, which would strengthen their position with respect to the patronage dispute. Instead, the legislature chose two new senators, Stalwart Elbridge G. Lapham to replace Conkling, and Half-Breed Miller to replace Platt. Miller served from July 27, 1881 to March 3, 1887 (the 47th, 48th, and 49th Congresses). His committee assignments included Agriculture, Commerce, and Education and Labor. He served as chairman of the Agriculture Committee in the 48th and 49th Congresses. In 1887, Miller was a candidate for reelection. Republicans controlled the state legislature, ensuring that their nominee would win. Platt was determined to see Miller defeated, and supported Stalwart Levi P. Morton. A third candidate, Frank Hiscock, was not affiliated with either faction and had little initial support. After 17 ballots failed to produce a nominee, Morton asked his supporters to back Hiscock, thus ensuring that Miller would be defeated. Hiscock won the nomination and went on to win the seat in the vote by the full legislature. Later years He ran for Governor of New York at the New York state election, 1888, but was defeated by the incumbent Democrat David B. Hill. In 1894, Miller was again a candidate for governor, but Platt succeeded in obtaining the Republican nomination for Levi P. Morton, who won the general election. When International Paper was formed in 1898, Miller sold his paper mills to the new concern. In retirement, he was a resident of Herkimer. In 1906, Miller was appointed chairman of a state Special Tax Commission, a panel of legislators and citizens that reviewed New York's