American Notes CALIFORNIA

Since the 1890s, the Salvation Army has made a Christmas tradition of collecting money for the needy. But the Army's shiny red kettles and bell- ringing workers are growing scarcer on the West Coast. Fearful that the bell ringers will set a precedent for other solicitors, up to half the shopping malls in California and Nevada have barred them. In protest, parishioners from nearly 100 churches in the Bay Area are boycotting some of the malls. A few owners have relented and allowed the kettles near the entrance of their stores. Nevertheless, since the kettles collect an average of $2,000 each during the holidays, the ban may cost the charity as much as half a million dollars this season.