As for restoring order, what do you have in mind, as current Steward and Treasurer, Duke Mandromenos? In neglected regions, the crown might intervene if necessary, but only then, or the entire principle of the act wouldn't pay off. Of course, if a revolt erupts due to that neglect or such grave matter, severe consequences will have to be taken - perhaps the revocation of the concerned title. I will gladly listen to your suggestions.
As you may know my education was not diplomatic, as my Grandfather, or military, as my Father, but in the legal spheres. I have studied and even taught law and its application from a young age until my Grandfather's passing. An interesting philosophy question posed to each student is this: Is is ethical, moral, and just for a man to steal to feed his family in lean times, provided his theft will not put another in danger? This is a difficult problem with many a good argument for both approval and disapproval. But ultimately there is only one solution to this problem: It is a ruler's responsibility to ensure that his land's stores are large enough to ensure that such actions are unnecessary. It is the burden of rulers, be they Counts or Emperors, to have a just, effective governance to ensure their lands prosper and continue to grow, so they may be capable of fairly taxing their subjects for such a grim time.
Without a Steward, Hispania will have no one seeking to continue to improve our infrastructure, which is the foundation of prosperity. How can one sail around Africa and do trade with India and China without the Ports we established around Africa after all? As our Empire grows, we need to improve our foundations to keep up. While the local lords may be active in a few regions, other regions may fall into neglect and depression. And as the prosperity of these regions disappears, lawlessness it rise as the people struggle to survive, or they will prove to be a burden on our Treasury as we seek to redistribute the prosperity from properly managed regions to the neglected. I refuse to allow either to happen. If the Treasurer is to approve the projects of the localized regions through the power of the purse, he must be given another power, the power to independently propose projects in neglected regions where the local nobility has been lax. This will allow the regions where the local leader are active to maintain their autonomy but allow the neglected regions the ability to prosper as well. And as the regions prosper, so will the Empire. And as the Empire prospers, so will the its Influence wax. And with that Influence Hispania will take its rightful place as this world's leader.